Education K-12 Special Education & Inclusion 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of 'transition planning' in a student's IEP beginning at age 16?
- Planning for the transition from elementary to middle school
- Preparing students with disabilities for post-secondary education, employment, and independent living (Correct answer)
- Transitioning students from special education to general education
- Planning for summer school
Correct answer: Preparing students with disabilities for post-secondary education, employment, and independent living
IDEA requires IEPs to include transition goals and services by age 16 to prepare students for adult life after high school.
Question 2: What does 'free appropriate public education' (FAPE) mean under IDEA?
- All public schools must provide free lunches to students with IEPs
- Students with disabilities are entitled to special education and related services at no cost to the family (Correct answer)
- All school activities must be accessible to students in wheelchairs
- Schools cannot charge fees for any program
Correct answer: Students with disabilities are entitled to special education and related services at no cost to the family
FAPE guarantees that students with disabilities receive specially designed instruction and services at public expense in a way that meets their individual needs.
Question 3: What is 'positive behavioral support' (PBS) for students with disabilities?
- A reward-only system that eliminates consequences
- A proactive, data-driven approach that teaches replacement behaviors and modifies environments to prevent challenging behavior (Correct answer)
- Physical restraint used as a last resort
- Peer mentoring for students with behavioral challenges
Correct answer: A proactive, data-driven approach that teaches replacement behaviors and modifies environments to prevent challenging behavior
PBS focuses on understanding the function of behavior and teaching alternative skills in a positive, supportive environment.
Question 4: What does 'paraprofessional' mean in a special education context?
- A specialist who evaluates students for special education eligibility
- A trained support staff member who assists teachers in providing services to students, often one-on-one (Correct answer)
- A school counselor with a special education license
- An itinerant teacher who travels between schools
Correct answer: A trained support staff member who assists teachers in providing services to students, often one-on-one
Paraprofessionals (also called aides or paraeducators) provide instructional and behavioral support under the supervision of licensed teachers.
Question 5: What is the purpose of 'extended school year' (ESY) services?
- Summer enrichment for gifted students
- Special education services provided beyond the regular school year to prevent significant regression of skills (Correct answer)
- After-school tutoring for students below grade level
- Required summer reading for all students
Correct answer: Special education services provided beyond the regular school year to prevent significant regression of skills
ESY provides IEP services during summer or school breaks when a student is at risk of losing critical skills that would require substantial time to recover.
Question 6: Under Section 504, which students are protected?
- Only students with intellectual disabilities
- Students with any physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities (Correct answer)
- Students who qualify for special education under IDEA
- Students with a documented learning disability only
Correct answer: Students with any physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities
Section 504 is a civil rights law protecting anyone with a disability that substantially limits major life activities, including students who don't meet IDEA criteria.
Education K-12 Special Education & Inclusion 3
What is the purpose of 'transition planning' in a student's IEP beginning at age 16?