DESE Special Education & IEP Development 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act differs from IDEA primarily because Section 504:
- Requires an IEP for every student who qualifies
- Covers a broader definition of disability and requires accommodations rather than specialized instruction (Correct answer)
- Applies only to postsecondary institutions
- Provides federal funding to schools for each qualifying student
Correct answer: Covers a broader definition of disability and requires accommodations rather than specialized instruction
Section 504 uses a broader disability definition and focuses on eliminating discrimination through reasonable accommodations, without requiring an IEP or providing special education funding.
Question 2: Which assessment approach involves collecting data on a student's skills using curriculum materials to monitor progress over time?
- Norm-referenced assessment
- Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM) (Correct answer)
- Portfolio assessment
- Criterion-referenced testing
Correct answer: Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM)
Curriculum-Based Measurement uses brief, standardized probes from the curriculum to assess student progress and inform instructional decisions.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes the role of a special education teacher during an IEP meeting?
- To make final decisions about placement without parent input
- To provide information about special education curriculum, instruction, and services (Correct answer)
- To solely advocate for the least restrictive environment regardless of student needs
- To document the meeting minutes and report to administration
Correct answer: To provide information about special education curriculum, instruction, and services
The special education teacher's IEP role includes sharing expertise about special education instruction, supports, and the student's performance in those settings.
Question 4: A student with a disability who is incarcerated in an adult correctional facility:
- Loses all IDEA protections upon conviction
- May have certain IDEA provisions modified but retains core rights to a FAPE (Correct answer)
- Is served exclusively under Section 504 rather than IDEA
- Is entitled to the same IEP services as students in public schools without exception
Correct answer: May have certain IDEA provisions modified but retains core rights to a FAPE
IDEA allows states to modify certain provisions for incarcerated students with disabilities, but they retain the right to FAPE.
Question 5: What is 'prior written notice' under IDEA and when must it be provided?
- A 60-day advance notice given before any school evaluation is scheduled
- Written notice to parents whenever the school proposes or refuses to change the student's identification, evaluation, or placement (Correct answer)
- A document listing all special education staff who will work with the student
- Annual notification of parent rights included in the student handbook
Correct answer: Written notice to parents whenever the school proposes or refuses to change the student's identification, evaluation, or placement
Prior written notice must be provided to parents whenever the school proposes or refuses to initiate or change the identification, evaluation, placement, or provision of FAPE.
Question 6: When evaluating a student for special education eligibility, the assessment team must:
- Use a single standardized IQ test to determine eligibility
- Use a variety of assessment tools and strategies to gather relevant functional and developmental information (Correct answer)
- Base the decision solely on teacher observations and grades
- Administer only district-approved assessments in English
Correct answer: Use a variety of assessment tools and strategies to gather relevant functional and developmental information
IDEA requires comprehensive, nondiscriminatory evaluations using multiple measures to avoid reliance on any single test.
Question 7: Which of the following describes 'extended school year' (ESY) services?
- Summer school programs available to all students who are below grade level
- Special education services provided beyond the regular school year for students who would otherwise significantly regress (Correct answer)
- After-school tutoring required for all students with IEPs
- State-funded enrichment programs for gifted students with disabilities
Correct answer: Special education services provided beyond the regular school year for students who would otherwise significantly regress
ESY services are individualized special education services provided beyond the standard school year to prevent significant regression of skills for eligible students.
DESE Special Education & IEP Development 4
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act differs from IDEA primarily because Section 504: