ESPC ESPC Special Education Law & Compliance 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal law guarantees students with disabilities the right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment?
- No Child Left Behind Act
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (Correct answer)
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Correct answer: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
IDEA mandates that eligible students with disabilities receive FAPE in the least restrictive environment appropriate to their needs.
Question 2: What does LRE stand for in special education law?
- Least Restrictive Environment (Correct answer)
- Learning Resource Evaluation
- Legal Rights Entitlement
- Limited Resource Education
Correct answer: Least Restrictive Environment
LRE (Least Restrictive Environment) requires that students with disabilities be educated alongside nondisabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate.
Question 3: Under IDEA, how often must an IEP be reviewed at minimum?
- Every 6 months
- Every year (Correct answer)
- Every 2 years
- Every 3 years
Correct answer: Every year
IDEA requires that each student's IEP be reviewed and updated at least once per year to ensure continued appropriateness.
Question 4: Which document outlines the specific accommodations and modifications a student with a disability will receive in the general education classroom?
- Behavior Intervention Plan
- 504 Plan or IEP (Correct answer)
- Progress Monitoring Report
- Functional Behavior Assessment
Correct answer: 504 Plan or IEP
A 504 Plan or IEP details the accommodations and modifications required to give a student with a disability equitable access to education.
Question 5: A paraeducator notices a possible change in a student's disability-related needs. What is the correct first step?
- Independently modify the student's IEP goals
- Report observations to the supervising teacher or case manager (Correct answer)
- Contact the parents directly without informing staff
- Ignore it since it is not the paraeducator's responsibility
Correct answer: Report observations to the supervising teacher or case manager
Paraeducators should report changes in student needs to the supervising teacher or case manager, who can initiate the proper review process.
Question 6: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act differs from IDEA primarily because it:
- Only applies to students in private schools
- Covers a broader range of students who have a physical or mental impairment that limits a major life activity (Correct answer)
- Requires an IEP for every covered student
- Is enforced only at the college level
Correct answer: Covers a broader range of students who have a physical or mental impairment that limits a major life activity
Section 504 has a broader eligibility definition, covering any student with an impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, even if they don't qualify for IDEA services.
ESPC ESPC Special Education Law & Compliance 1
Which federal law guarantees students with disabilities the right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment?