CEC Legal Frameworks & Educational Law 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What federal law mandates that schools provide a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to students with disabilities?
- No Child Left Behind Act
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (Correct answer)
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Correct answer: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
IDEA specifically mandates FAPE for eligible students with disabilities aged 3–21 in the least restrictive environment.
Question 2: Under FERPA, who holds the right to inspect and review a student's educational records once that student turns 18?
- The school principal and all certified teachers
- Parents or legal guardians regardless of the student's age
- The student themselves, as an 'eligible student' (Correct answer)
- Any school district employee with an educational interest
Correct answer: The student themselves, as an 'eligible student'
FERPA transfers record rights from parents to the student (now called the 'eligible student') upon reaching age 18 or enrolling in postsecondary education.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of an Individualized Education Program (IEP)?
- To document a student's standardized test scores across grade levels
- To outline personalized goals, accommodations, and related services for a student with a disability (Correct answer)
- To create a behavior intervention plan for any student with disciplinary issues
- To track college application timelines for students with learning differences
Correct answer: To outline personalized goals, accommodations, and related services for a student with a disability
An IEP is a legally binding document required under IDEA that specifies measurable educational goals, placement, and all services a student with a disability will receive.
Question 4: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 protects students who:
- Have been formally identified under IDEA as requiring special education
- Have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity (Correct answer)
- Are English Language Learners needing language acquisition support
- Score below grade level on two or more state assessments
Correct answer: Have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity
Section 504 uses a broader definition of disability than IDEA, covering any physical or mental impairment substantially limiting a major life activity, even if the student does not need special instruction.
Question 5: The 'least restrictive environment' (LRE) principle under IDEA requires schools to:
- Place all students with disabilities in self-contained special education classrooms
- Educate students with disabilities alongside non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate (Correct answer)
- Use the least expensive intervention strategies when designing IEPs
- Minimize the number of academic goals listed in each student's IEP
Correct answer: Educate students with disabilities alongside non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate
LRE requires that students with disabilities be educated with non-disabled peers to the greatest extent possible, with supplementary aids and services provided as needed.
Question 6: Under IDEA, how frequently must an IEP team formally review a student's IEP?
- Every six months
- Every two years or upon a school change
- At least once per year (Correct answer)
- Every three years, coinciding with the triennial re-evaluation
Correct answer: At least once per year
IDEA mandates that each student's IEP be reviewed at least annually to assess progress toward goals and revise the plan as needed.
Question 7: The 'Child Find' mandate under IDEA requires public schools to:
- Locate students who are truant and return them to school
- Actively identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities who may need special education services (Correct answer)
- Find appropriate private school placements for students whose IEPs cannot be implemented locally
- Search for academically gifted students who are not receiving sufficiently challenging instruction
Correct answer: Actively identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities who may need special education services
Child Find is a proactive obligation under IDEA that extends to all children within a school district's jurisdiction, including those attending private schools or being homeschooled.
CEC Legal Frameworks & Educational Law 1
What federal law mandates that schools provide a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to students with disabilities?