Virginia Special Needs & Inclusive Education 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under IDEA, which team member is REQUIRED to attend every IEP meeting?
- The school psychologist
- A general education teacher of the student (Correct answer)
- The school counselor
- The district's special education director
Correct answer: A general education teacher of the student
IDEA requires that at least one general education teacher participate in IEP meetings when the student is or may be participating in general education.
Question 2: A student with dyslexia struggles to decode words during reading. Which evidence-based instructional approach is most appropriate?
- Whole-language immersion
- Structured Literacy using systematic phonics instruction (Correct answer)
- Context-clue guessing strategies
- Silent sustained reading
Correct answer: Structured Literacy using systematic phonics instruction
Structured Literacy, which includes systematic and explicit phonics instruction, is the most research-supported approach for students with dyslexia.
Question 3: Which term describes the process of modifying the curriculum content, performance standards, or assessment criteria specifically for a student with a disability?
- Accommodation
- Modification (Correct answer)
- Differentiation
- Scaffolding
Correct answer: Modification
Modifications alter what a student is expected to learn or demonstrate, changing the content or performance standard itself.
Question 4: A Virginia teacher suspects a student has an emotional disturbance. What is the teacher's first required step?
- Immediately contact the parent to request an evaluation
- Refer the student to the school's intervention team or student support team (Correct answer)
- Contact the special education coordinator to schedule a formal evaluation
- Create an informal behavior intervention plan
Correct answer: Refer the student to the school's intervention team or student support team
Before a formal evaluation, Virginia schools require a referral to the intervention team to ensure supports are implemented and data is collected first.
Question 5: Which placement option represents the LEAST restrictive environment for a student who needs academic support but can participate in most general education activities?
- A self-contained special education classroom
- A residential facility
- A resource room for part of the school day (Correct answer)
- Homebound instruction
Correct answer: A resource room for part of the school day
A resource room setting allows the student to participate in general education for most of the day while receiving targeted support, making it less restrictive than self-contained options.
Question 6: What does 'FAPE' stand for in special education law?
- Free and Appropriate Public Education (Correct answer)
- Federal Assistance for Public Enrollment
- Full Access to Placement and Evaluation
- Functional Assessment and Program Evaluation
Correct answer: Free and Appropriate Public Education
FAPE — Free and Appropriate Public Education — is a foundational right guaranteed to students with disabilities under IDEA.
Question 7: A student with autism spectrum disorder has difficulty with transitions between activities. Which strategy is most effective for reducing transition-related anxiety?
- Limiting the number of daily transitions by keeping one activity all day
- Using visual schedules and advance warnings before transitions occur (Correct answer)
- Assigning a peer buddy to physically guide the student during transitions
- Removing the student from the classroom during transitions
Correct answer: Using visual schedules and advance warnings before transitions occur
Visual schedules and advance warnings provide predictability that reduces anxiety during transitions for students with ASD.
Virginia Special Needs & Inclusive Education 2
Under IDEA, which team member is REQUIRED to attend every IEP meeting?