Foundations and professional Practice

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

A special education law that requires schools to educate students with disabilities in least restrictive environments using plans tailored to their individual needs.

IDEA Part C

Part of federal law that outlines services for students with disabilities from birth to age 3, providing Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs).

IDEA Part B

Covers children and young adults with disabilities ages 3 to 21, ensuring they receive special education services.

Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs)

Legally mandated plans for infants and toddlers with disabilities, aimed at involving family members in the treatment process.

Present Levels of Performance (PLOP)

A snapshot of a student's current performance in school and how their disability affects their academic progress.

Child Find Law

Requires schools to identify children with disabilities who need special education or other services.

Steps in Implementing EBP

Follow these steps: ask a question, collect evidence, critically appraise the evidence, integrate with clinical expertise, and evaluate the decision.

Manifestation Determination

A process to determine if a student's inappropriate behavior is a result of their disability, required before disciplinary actions.

Title III of ADA

Ensures access to goods and services in public and commercial facilities.

Larry P. v. Riles case

Ruled that IQ tests for African-American students are racially discriminatory and must use other assessment methods.

Diana vs. State Board of Education

Mandated that assessments for Spanish-speaking students in California must be conducted in their native language.

Winkleman vs. Parma City BOE

Parents can represent their children in IDEA cases.

Honig v. Doe

Prevented expulsion of students for misbehavior caused by their disability.

Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Challenged the state's denial of a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to students with disabilities.

1990 amendments to the IDEA

Replaced 'handicapped' with 'disabilities,' required transition plans for students over 16, and changed the age range for services.

Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act (2004)

Required special educators to achieve qualified teacher status and mandated that IEPs contain measurable goals.

Response to Intervention procedures

An educational model that monitors student progress and provides further intervention if needed.

National Educational Goals Act

Aimed to ensure children are ready for school by focusing on outcomes-based education.

No Child Left Behind Act

A U.S. law to increase educational accountability through standardized testing and funding requirements.

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)

Measurement of school achievement based on students' test results.

Every Student Succeeds Act 2015

Replaced No Child Left Behind, focusing on equal opportunities and quality education for all students.

Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Added protections for individuals with disabilities against discrimination in employment and education.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

Banned discrimination against individuals with disabilities and mandated public accessibility.

Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965

Provided federal funding for primary and secondary education aimed at improving education for the disadvantaged.

Section 504

Plan ensuring access to education for students with disabilities through appropriate services.

504 plan

A blueprint for how a school will provide services to a student with disabilities that don’t qualify for special education.

Informed Parental Consent

Requirement for parental permission to enroll a child in special education services after providing educational options.

Due Process (Informed Parental Consent)

Legal process initiated by schools when disagreeing with a parent's withdrawal of consent.

Stakeholders in Special Education

Includes students, parents, general educators, administrators, and community members.

Multi-factored Evaluation

A comprehensive assessment process required by IDEA to evaluate eligibility for special education.

Special Education Instructional Settings

Different settings include general education, resource room, self-contained classroom, and homebound instruction.

Self-Contained Classroom

An educational setting where instruction is delivered primarily by a special education teacher.

Due Process

Legal right under IDEA involving violations of laws or regulations by school districts.

Mediation (before Due Process)

A voluntary process to resolve disputes between parents and school districts before filing due process.

FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)

Protects student education records and grants parents rights to review and challenge those records.

Pre-referral Process

Efforts to modify and accommodate a student’s needs before referring for special education services.

School Psychologist

Professionals who assess and counsel students, consult with educators and parents, and perform interventions.

Disproportionate Representation

Occurs when a specific group is represented in special education outside expected ratios.

Response to Intervention (RTI)

Strategy for assisting children with below-average achievement by providing interventions.

One Teach, One Support

Co-teaching model where one teacher leads instruction while the other assists.

Parallel Teaching Model

Class is split into two groups, with each teacher instructing one group.

Alternate Teaching Model

One teacher instructs a large group while the other teaches a smaller group.

Station Teaching

Teachers divide content and students, teaching different groups before switching roles.

Team Teaching

Both teachers deliver the same instruction simultaneously.

Remedial Instruction

Focused assistance for students with average or above-average abilities who struggle in certain content areas.

Special Education

Dedicated approach to educating children with intellectual disabilities through individualized instruction.

Remedial Approach

Breaking down concepts into smaller pieces for repetition and reinforcement.

Compensatory Approach

Focuses on leveraging children’s strengths when the remedial approach is ineffective.

Use of Assistive Technology

Incorporating technology to support learning and accessibility for students.

IEP Team Members

Include parents, general education teacher, special education teacher, and other professionals involved in a child's education.

Related Service Members

Professionals like speech pathologists and occupational therapists who assist in student education.

Communication Deficits

Impairments in speech and language that affect communication with others.

Speech-Language Pathologist

Professional who provides interventions for children with communication disorders.

Occupational Therapists

Help students improve motor skills, sensory deficits, and attention through observations and interventions.

Paraprofessionals

Assist special education teachers with instruction and help meet IEP goals; not responsible for teaching new skills.

Cognitive Behavioral Theory

Focuses on how personal beliefs affect behaviors through a cognitive triad of self, world, and environment.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

A therapeutic approach to adjust thinking and replace unhealthy behaviors with healthy ones.

Behavior Rating Scale Assessments

Used to assess students with emotional disorders to determine eligibility for special education.

Positive Reinforcement

Increasing behaviors by providing positive stimuli after the desired behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

Increasing behaviors by removing negative stimuli, strengthening responses without punishment.

Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)

Process to identify causes of specific behaviors affecting education performance.

Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP)

Plans to teach students behaviors incompatible with problem behaviors, based on FBA.

Positive Classroom Discipline Strategies

Establishing consequences for poor choices and providing behavioral reminders.

Crisis Prevention Plan

Proactively identifies crises and offers support to manage crises effectively.