PRAXIS Special Education and Inclusive Practices 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student with dyslexia is MOST likely to benefit from which of the following instructional approaches?
- Whole-language immersion with minimal phonics instruction
- Explicit, systematic phonics instruction with multisensory components (Correct answer)
- Silent reading practice for at least 30 minutes daily
- Reducing all reading assignments to oral presentations
Correct answer: Explicit, systematic phonics instruction with multisensory components
Research supports explicit, systematic, multisensory phonics instruction (e.g., Orton-Gillingham) as the most effective approach for students with dyslexia.
Question 2: Which of the following is an example of an accommodation (rather than a modification) for a student with a disability?
- Reducing the number of math problems from 20 to 10
- Allowing extended time on tests (Correct answer)
- Grading the student on a different scale than peers
- Replacing written assignments with oral reports permanently
Correct answer: Allowing extended time on tests
Extended time is an accommodation because it changes how a student accesses the assessment without altering the content or expectations.
Question 3: During the IEP process, a 'present level of academic achievement and functional performance' (PLAAFP) statement is used to:
- Document the student's disability diagnosis for medical records
- Establish a baseline from which annual goals are developed (Correct answer)
- Justify why a student needs a self-contained placement
- Describe the general education curriculum for the grade level
Correct answer: Establish a baseline from which annual goals are developed
The PLAAFP provides a data-driven baseline of the student's current skills, which directly informs the development of measurable annual IEP goals.
Question 4: Which behavior intervention strategy involves teaching a student a socially appropriate behavior that serves the same function as a problematic behavior?
- Token economy
- Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)
- Differential Reinforcement of Alternate Behavior (DRA) (Correct answer)
- Extinction
Correct answer: Differential Reinforcement of Alternate Behavior (DRA)
DRA reinforces an alternative, appropriate behavior that achieves the same outcome for the student as the problem behavior, replacing it over time.
Question 5: A Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) is conducted PRIMARILY to:
- Determine the appropriate special education eligibility category for a student
- Identify the function or purpose a problem behavior serves for a student (Correct answer)
- Design academic accommodations listed in the student's IEP
- Evaluate a student's cognitive abilities for placement decisions
Correct answer: Identify the function or purpose a problem behavior serves for a student
An FBA analyzes antecedents, behaviors, and consequences to determine WHY a student engages in a problem behavior (its function), guiding intervention design.
Question 6: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act differs from IDEA in that Section 504:
- Only applies to students with physical disabilities
- Provides funding to schools for special education services
- Covers a broader range of disabilities and does not require specialized instruction (Correct answer)
- Requires individualized educational programs with annual goals
Correct answer: Covers a broader range of disabilities and does not require specialized instruction
Section 504 covers any condition that substantially limits a major life activity, offering accommodations without requiring the specialized instruction and funding structure of IDEA.
Question 7: When a special education teacher uses task analysis, they are PRIMARILY:
- Evaluating a student's overall academic performance on standardized tests
- Breaking a complex skill into smaller, sequential steps for instruction (Correct answer)
- Comparing a student's progress to grade-level peers
- Designing an FBA to address challenging behaviors
Correct answer: Breaking a complex skill into smaller, sequential steps for instruction
Task analysis breaks a complex skill into discrete, sequential steps that can be taught and mastered one at a time, making it accessible for students with disabilities.
PRAXIS Special Education and Inclusive Practices 2
A student with dyslexia is MOST likely to benefit from which of the following instructional approaches?