TExES 161 Legal and Ethical Foundations 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal law is the primary legislation governing special education services for students with disabilities in the United States?
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (Correct answer)
- The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Correct answer: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
IDEA is the primary federal law that mandates free appropriate public education (FAPE) for students with disabilities and governs special education services.
Question 2: What does FAPE stand for in special education law?
- Free Appropriate Public Education (Correct answer)
- Full Access to Public Enrollment
- Federal Assistance for Public Education
- Formally Approved Program for Education
Correct answer: Free Appropriate Public Education
FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education) is the right guaranteed under IDEA for eligible students with disabilities to receive specially designed instruction at no cost to the family.
Question 3: Under IDEA, which term describes the requirement that students with disabilities be educated alongside their non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate?
- Inclusion
- Mainstreaming
- Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) (Correct answer)
- Full Integration
Correct answer: Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) is the legal requirement under IDEA that students with disabilities be educated with non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate.
Question 4: A student who does not qualify under IDEA may still receive accommodations through which other federal law?
- The Americans with Disabilities Act Title I
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Correct answer)
- The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
- The No Child Left Behind Act
Correct answer: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act provides accommodations and protections for students with disabilities who do not qualify for special education services under IDEA.
Question 5: What is the maximum number of days a school district typically has to conduct an initial evaluation for special education eligibility after receiving parental consent?
- 30 days
- 45 days
- 60 days (Correct answer)
- 90 days
Correct answer: 60 days
Under IDEA, school districts generally must complete an initial evaluation within 60 days of receiving parental consent (some states may have different timelines).
Question 6: Which ethical principle requires special educators to maintain confidentiality regarding student records and information?
- Beneficence
- Nonmaleficence
- Autonomy
- Confidentiality (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Confidentiality
Confidentiality is the ethical and legal obligation of special educators to protect private student information, as also governed by FERPA.
TExES 161 Legal and Ethical Foundations 1
Which federal law is the primary legislation governing special education services for students with disabilities in the United States?