ESE ESE Legal Frameworks & Disability Law 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does FAPE stand for in special education law?
- Free and Appropriate Public Education (Correct answer)
- Federal Assessment and Performance Evaluation
- Functional Academic Progress Evaluation
- Full Access to Public Enrollment
Correct answer: Free and Appropriate Public Education
FAPE (Free and Appropriate Public Education) is a right guaranteed under IDEA, requiring schools to provide special education services at no cost to families.
Question 2: What is the 'least restrictive environment' (LRE) principle under IDEA?
- Students must always be placed in general education classrooms
- Students with disabilities must be educated alongside non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate (Correct answer)
- Students should receive all services in pull-out settings
- Only students with mild disabilities qualify for general education placement
Correct answer: Students with disabilities must be educated alongside non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate
LRE requires that students with disabilities be educated with non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate, with removal to more restrictive settings only when necessary.
Question 3: Which of the following is NOT one of the six principles of IDEA?
- Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
- Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
- Individualized Education Program (IEP)
- Standardized Curriculum for All Students (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Standardized Curriculum for All Students
The six principles of IDEA are FAPE, LRE, IEP, appropriate evaluation, parent participation, and procedural safeguards — standardized curriculum is not among them.
Question 4: Under IDEA, which category is NOT one of the 13 recognized disability categories?
- Specific Learning Disability
- Emotional Disturbance
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as a standalone category (Correct answer)
- Intellectual Disability
Correct answer: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as a standalone category
IDEA's 13 categories do not include ADHD as a standalone category; students with ADHD may qualify under Other Health Impairment (OHI) if it adversely affects educational performance.
Question 5: What is the 'Child Find' obligation under IDEA?
- Schools must locate and enroll all school-age children
- States and school districts must identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities who may need special education services (Correct answer)
- Parents must report children with disabilities to the school
- Schools must search for students who are truant
Correct answer: States and school districts must identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities who may need special education services
Child Find is IDEA's requirement that states and LEAs proactively identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities, including those in private schools and those who are homeless.
Question 6: What is the maximum timeline for completing an initial evaluation after parental consent under IDEA?
- 30 days
- 45 days
- 60 days (Correct answer)
- 90 days
Correct answer: 60 days
Under IDEA, a school must complete an initial evaluation within 60 days of receiving parental consent, or within the state's established timeline if shorter.
ESE ESE Legal Frameworks & Disability Law 1
What does FAPE stand for in special education law?