FTCE Exceptional Student Education 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under IDEA, which term describes the written document outlining the special education services and supports a student with a disability will receive?
- Individualized Education Program (IEP) (Correct answer)
- Student Support Plan (SSP)
- 504 Accommodation Plan
- Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)
Correct answer: Individualized Education Program (IEP)
The Individualized Education Program (IEP) is the legally required document under IDEA that outlines goals, services, and accommodations for eligible students with disabilities.
Question 2: Which federal law governs the education of students with disabilities in public schools from birth through age 21?
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (Correct answer)
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Correct answer: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
IDEA mandates that students with disabilities receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).
Question 3: The concept of 'Least Restrictive Environment' (LRE) in special education means that students with disabilities should:
- Always be placed in a self-contained special education classroom
- Be educated alongside non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate (Correct answer)
- Receive all services outside the general education setting
- Have a one-to-one paraprofessional at all times
Correct answer: Be educated alongside non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate
LRE requires that students with disabilities are educated with non-disabled peers to the greatest extent appropriate, with supplementary aids and services as needed.
Question 4: A student demonstrates difficulty with phonological awareness, decoding, and reading fluency despite adequate instruction. This profile is most consistent with which disability category?
- Intellectual Disability
- Specific Learning Disability in Reading (Dyslexia) (Correct answer)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Speech-Language Impairment
Correct answer: Specific Learning Disability in Reading (Dyslexia)
Deficits in phonological awareness, decoding, and reading fluency despite adequate instruction are hallmark characteristics of a Specific Learning Disability in reading, commonly referred to as dyslexia.
Question 5: Which of the following is an evidence-based strategy for teaching students with intellectual disabilities new skills by breaking tasks into small, sequential steps?
- Cooperative learning
- Task analysis (Correct answer)
- Scaffolded inquiry
- Differentiated instruction
Correct answer: Task analysis
Task analysis involves breaking complex skills into small, manageable steps and teaching each step systematically, making it especially effective for students with intellectual disabilities.
Question 6: A teacher notices a student frequently exhibits disruptive behavior before transitions. According to Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), what is the FIRST step in addressing this behavior?
- Remove the student from the classroom during transitions
- Conduct a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) (Correct answer)
- Implement immediate punishment consequences
- Refer the student for a change of placement
Correct answer: Conduct a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)
A Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) identifies the antecedents, behaviors, and consequences to understand the function of the behavior before developing interventions.
Question 7: Which assessment approach involves observing and evaluating a student's performance on authentic tasks within real learning contexts rather than using standardized tests?
- Norm-referenced assessment
- Criterion-referenced assessment
- Curriculum-based measurement
- Performance-based/authentic assessment (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Performance-based/authentic assessment
Performance-based or authentic assessment evaluates students through real-world tasks and direct observation, capturing skills not easily measured by standardized tests.
FTCE Exceptional Student Education 1
Under IDEA, which term describes the written document outlining the special education services and supports a student with a disability will receive?