MDE Special Education 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A 17-year-old student with a physical disability has an IEP. By what age must Minnesota law require transition planning to be actively incorporated into the IEP?
- 14
- 15
- 16 (Correct answer)
- 18
Correct answer: 16
IDEA and Minnesota require transition services to be included in the IEP by age 16, though Minnesota encourages earlier planning.
Question 2: During a manifestation determination review (MDR), the IEP team concludes the behavior was a manifestation of the student's disability. What must the team do?
- Proceed with the proposed expulsion
- Conduct an FBA and review or develop a BIP, and return the student to the original placement (Correct answer)
- Transfer the student to an alternative school permanently
- Suspend the student for an additional 45 days
Correct answer: Conduct an FBA and review or develop a BIP, and return the student to the original placement
When behavior is a manifestation of the disability, the team must address it through an FBA/BIP and return the student to the placement in effect prior to removal.
Question 3: What does the term 'specially designed instruction' mean in the context of Minnesota special education?
- Any curriculum used in a special education classroom
- Adapting content, methodology, or delivery to meet a student's unique needs arising from their disability (Correct answer)
- One-on-one tutoring provided outside of school hours
- Technology-assisted instruction approved by the district
Correct answer: Adapting content, methodology, or delivery to meet a student's unique needs arising from their disability
Specially designed instruction means adapting the content, methodology, or delivery of instruction to address the unique needs of a child with a disability.
Question 4: A parent revokes consent for special education services in writing. What must the school district do?
- Continue services until the end of the school year
- Immediately convene a due process hearing
- Cease services in a reasonable time and not use mediation or due process to override the revocation (Correct answer)
- Require the parent to attend a mandatory meeting before stopping services
Correct answer: Cease services in a reasonable time and not use mediation or due process to override the revocation
Under IDEA 2004, a parent may revoke consent at any time, and the district must stop services without using dispute resolution procedures to override that decision.
Question 5: Which Minnesota special education category applies to a student who exhibits pervasive deficits in social communication and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior?
- Developmental Cognitive Disability
- Autism Spectrum Disorders (Correct answer)
- Emotional or Behavioral Disorders
- Other Health Disabilities
Correct answer: Autism Spectrum Disorders
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is characterized by deficits in social communication and restricted/repetitive behaviors under DSM-5 and Minnesota eligibility criteria.
Question 6: A student is placed in a 45-day interim alternative educational setting (IAES) for bringing a weapon to school. Which statement is correct?
- A manifestation determination must occur within 10 school days of the decision (Correct answer)
- The student loses all IEP rights during the IAES placement
- The 45-day IAES placement requires parental consent
- The student cannot receive special education services during the 45-day period
Correct answer: A manifestation determination must occur within 10 school days of the decision
IDEA requires the district to conduct a manifestation determination review within 10 school days of any removal decision involving a change of placement.
Question 7: In Minnesota, what is 'child find' and who is responsible for it?
- A database for tracking missing children, managed by law enforcement
- The obligation of local education agencies to locate, identify, and evaluate all children with disabilities (Correct answer)
- A voluntary parent reporting system for suspected disabilities
- A federal program administered solely by the Minnesota Department of Education
Correct answer: The obligation of local education agencies to locate, identify, and evaluate all children with disabilities
Child find is a mandatory IDEA requirement placing responsibility on LEAs to actively identify and evaluate all children who may have disabilities, including those in private schools.
MDE Special Education 3
A 17-year-old student with a physical disability has an IEP.
By what age must Minnesota law require transition planning to be actively incorporated into the IEP?