SBEC Special Education & Inclusion 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does IDEA stand for in the context of special education law?
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (Correct answer)
- Inclusive Development and Educational Assessment
- Individual Disability Evaluation and Administration
- International Division of Educational Advocacy
Correct answer: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) is the federal law that governs the provision of special education services for students with disabilities.
Question 2: In Texas, what is the committee called that develops and reviews a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP)?
- Special Education Planning Team (SEPT)
- Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee (Correct answer)
- Individual Education Committee (IEC)
- Student Support Team (SST)
Correct answer: Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee
In Texas, the ARD (Admission, Review, and Dismissal) committee is the state-specific term for the team that develops, reviews, and revises a student's IEP.
Question 3: Which IDEA principle requires that students with disabilities be educated alongside non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate?
- Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
- Individualized Education Program (IEP)
- Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) (Correct answer)
- Child Find
Correct answer: Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
The Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) principle mandates that students with disabilities be educated with non-disabled peers to the greatest extent appropriate given their individual needs.
Question 4: Which of the following is NOT one of the 13 disability categories recognized under IDEA?
- Autism
- Emotional Disturbance
- Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) (Correct answer)
- Traumatic Brain Injury
Correct answer: Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
ADD/ADHD is not a standalone IDEA category; students with ADHD may qualify under Other Health Impairment (OHI) if it adversely affects their educational performance.
Question 5: What is the primary difference between accommodations and modifications in special education?
- Accommodations change the content; modifications change how it is delivered
- Accommodations change how a student accesses learning; modifications change what is expected of the student (Correct answer)
- Accommodations are for ELL students only; modifications are for students with disabilities
- Accommodations require an IEP; modifications only require a 504 plan
Correct answer: Accommodations change how a student accesses learning; modifications change what is expected of the student
Accommodations alter how a student accesses or demonstrates learning without changing grade-level content expectations, while modifications change what the student is actually expected to learn.
Question 6: A student diagnosed with ADHD struggles academically but does not qualify for special education under IDEA. Under which law might this student still receive school-based accommodations?
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Correct answer)
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Correct answer: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act provides accommodations for students whose disability substantially limits a major life activity, even if they do not qualify for IDEA services.
Question 7: What is the purpose of the Response to Intervention (RTI) framework in schools?
- To identify students for gifted and talented education programs
- To provide tiered academic and behavioral support and identify students who may need a special education evaluation (Correct answer)
- To replace the IEP process for students already identified with disabilities
- To document disciplinary actions for students with persistent behavioral challenges
Correct answer: To provide tiered academic and behavioral support and identify students who may need a special education evaluation
RTI is a multi-tiered support framework that provides early intervention for struggling students and helps identify those who may need a formal special education evaluation.
SBEC Special Education & Inclusion 1
What does IDEA stand for in the context of special education law?