PRAXIS Special Education and Inclusive Practices 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under IDEA, which of the following is the primary purpose of an Individualized Education Program (IEP)?
- To document a student's medical history for insurance purposes
- To outline measurable annual goals and services for a student with a disability (Correct answer)
- To provide a standardized curriculum for all students with learning differences
- To replace the general education curriculum for students with disabilities
Correct answer: To outline measurable annual goals and services for a student with a disability
An IEP outlines measurable annual goals, special education services, and accommodations tailored to a specific student's disability-related needs.
Question 2: Which federal law mandates that students with disabilities receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)?
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
- No Child Left Behind Act
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (Correct answer)
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Correct answer: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
IDEA specifically mandates FAPE and LRE for students with qualifying disabilities, guiding how schools provide special education services.
Question 3: A student with a learning disability in reading is placed in a general education classroom with support from a special education co-teacher. This arrangement is BEST described as:
- A self-contained special education classroom
- A pull-out resource room model
- An inclusive co-teaching model (Correct answer)
- A homebound instruction program
Correct answer: An inclusive co-teaching model
Co-teaching in a general education classroom with both a general and special education teacher present is the hallmark of an inclusive co-teaching model.
Question 4: Which of the following BEST describes 'universal design for learning' (UDL)?
- A curriculum designed exclusively for students with physical disabilities
- A proactive framework providing multiple means of representation, engagement, and expression (Correct answer)
- A remediation approach used only after a student fails an assessment
- A standardized testing accommodation granted by an IEP
Correct answer: A proactive framework providing multiple means of representation, engagement, and expression
UDL is a proactive instructional framework that offers flexible means of representation, action/expression, and engagement to benefit all learners.
Question 5: A teacher notices a student struggles to sit still, frequently blurts out answers, and has difficulty sustaining attention during lessons. These behaviors are MOST consistent with characteristics of:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (Correct answer)
- Emotional and Behavioral Disorder (EBD)
- Intellectual Disability (ID)
Correct answer: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Hyperactivity, impulsivity (blurting out), and inattention are the three core symptom clusters of ADHD.
Question 6: Which team member is legally required to participate in all IEP meetings?
- A school psychologist
- The student's parents or legal guardians (Correct answer)
- A district-level administrator
- A speech-language pathologist
Correct answer: The student's parents or legal guardians
IDEA requires that parents or legal guardians participate as equal members of the IEP team to ensure family involvement in educational decisions.
Question 7: Differentiated instruction in an inclusive classroom PRIMARILY involves:
- Assigning different grades to students based on their ability level
- Modifying content, process, or product based on students' readiness, interests, and learning profiles (Correct answer)
- Separating students into homogeneous groups for all instructional activities
- Reducing the number of assignments given to struggling learners
Correct answer: Modifying content, process, or product based on students' readiness, interests, and learning profiles
Differentiated instruction adjusts content, process, and product to meet the diverse readiness levels, interests, and learning profiles of all students.
PRAXIS Special Education and Inclusive Practices 1
Under IDEA, which of the following is the primary purpose of an Individualized Education Program (IEP)?