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Chapter 1: The Purposes, People, and Law of Special Education
Multiple Choice
1. What percent of students ages 6 through 21 receive some form of special education?
A. 3.1 %
B. 6.7%
C. 8.9%
D. 18%
2. The total number of students, youth, and young adults served by special education is
approximately:
A. 10 million
B. 1 million
C. 7 million
D. 4 million
3. What two disability categories constitute about two-thirds of all students who are classified as
having a disability?
A. Specific learning disabilities and speech or language impairments
B. Specific learning disabilities and intellectual disabilities
C. Specific learning disabilities and emotional disturbance
D. Specific learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder
4. Which of the following is NOT one of the four goals of special education?
A. Equal opportunity
B. Full participation
C. Independent living
D. High quality separate settings
5. Of 14 fields in education identified as having considerable shortages by the Department of
Education, how many relate to special education?
A. 9 fields
B. 5 fields
C. 2 fields
D. All fields
6. Which of the following regions of the country appears to have the greatest shortage of trained
special education personnel?
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A. Northeast
B. Southwest
C. Southeast
D. Northcentral
7. Professionals, in addition to educators, who provide supplemental services to students in
schools are known as:
A. Paraprofessionals
B. Related service providers
C. School administrators
D. Private support services
8. What is the current age span for services under IDEA?
A. IDEA covers individuals ages three to 21.
B. IDEA covers individuals ages six to 21.
C. IDEA covers individuals ages birth through 21.
D. IDEA covers individuals ages six through 18.
9. Which part of IDEA declares our national policy regarding the education of students with
disabilities?
A. Part A
B. Part B
C. Part C
D. Part D
10. Infants and toddlers who need early intervention services due to developmental delays
physical or mental conditions that have a high probability of resulting in developmental delay
are provided with services through:
A. Part B of IDEA
B. Americans with Disabilities Act
C. Elementary and Secondary Education Act
D. Part C of IDEA
11. How many principles are outlined in IDEA?
A. Two principles
B. Four principles
C. Six principles
D. Eight principles
12. Which of the following principles of IDEA prevent a school from excluding a child access to
an education based on their disability?
A. Nondiscriminatory evaluation
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B. Zero reject
C. Parent participation
D. FAPE
13. A formal, written plan for children from birth through age two is which of the following?
A. ITP—Individualized Transition Plan
B. IEP—Individualized Education Plan
C. IECP—Individualized Early Childhood Plan
D. IFSP—Individualized Family Service Plan
14. Which of the following IEP team participants are seen as optional participants?
A. Parents or guardians
B. Special education teacher
C. Advocate
D. General education teacher
15. Which principle of IDEA states that a student with a disability must be educated with
students without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate for the student?
A. The Education for All Handicapped Children Act
B. Zero reject
C. Least restrictive environment
D. Due process
16. Which of the following is not true regarding the least restrictive environment?
A. There is a presumption in favor of inclusion.
B. It includes extracurricular activities.
C. The general education environment is always the least restrictive environment.
D. A continuum of placement options should be considered.
17. The IDEA principle that seeks to establish accountability for carrying out the student’s rights
under IDEA is:
A. Appropriate education
B. Procedural due process
C. Least restrictive environment
D. Zero reject
18. After how many cumulative days of suspension in one school year does IDEA mandate a
manifestation determination meeting be held?
A. Five
B. Seven
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C. Ten
D. Forty-five
19. The principle of IDEA which allows fair and specific procedures related to assessment,
identification, and placement of children in special education is called:
A. Appropriate education
B. Procedural due process
C. Nondiscriminatory evaluation
D. Zero reject
20. The process of determining whether a student’s behavior is a direct result of the student’s
disability is:
A. Equal treatment
B. No cessation
C. Interim alternative placement
D. Manifestation determination
21. The act which seeks to mandate accountability for performance regarding people with
disabilities is which of the following?
A. The ESEA
B. ADA
C. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
D. The Tech Act
22. The principal federal law affecting both general and special education is the:
A. ESEA
B. Section 504
C. ADA
D. IEP
23. Which of the following prohibits discrimination in any activity receiving federal financial
assistance solely on the basis of disability?
A. ESEA
B. Section 504
C. IDEA
D. NCLB
24. Which law extends accessibility and anti-discriminatory protection for individuals with
disabilities into private-sector employment, transportation, state and local government
activities and programs, privately operated businesses that are open to the public (“public
accommodations”), and telecommunications?
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A. IDEA
B. Section 504
C. ADA
D. ESEA
25. Which of the following make mention of disability being related to an impairment in a major
life function?
A. IDEA and ADA
B. ADA and 504
C. 504 and IDEA
D. IDEA and ESEA
26. What is not a main difference between 504 and IDEA?
A. 504 is an anti-discrimination law
B. IDEA provides for federal funds to support its principles
C. 504 provides for federal funds to support its principles
D. IDEA deals with birth through age 21 only
27. Each of the following must be part of supported employment except which one?
A. The supported worker must be paid above minimum wage.
B. The supported worker must work at least 20 hours a week.
C. The supported worker must, after 18 months, be able to do the job without support.
D. The supported worker must work in a typical work setting.
28. The two laws intended as antidiscrimination laws are:
A. Section 504 and ADA
B. Section 504 and IDEA
C. IDEA and ADA
D. ESEA and IDEA
29. Which of the following describe the two elements of disability?
A. Physical or mental impairment; Inadequate test results
B. Physical or mental impairment; Substantial limitation of major life activity
C. Inadequate test results; Professional opinion
D. Professional opinion; Inadequate test results
30. Which of the following is NOT one of the Council for Exceptional Children’s Special
Education Professional Ethical Principles?
A. Participating in the growth and dissemination of professional knowledge and skills.
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B. Engaging in the improvement of the profession through active participation in
professional organizations.
C. Lobbying for policies that ensure that students with disabilities receive most of their
instruction in a separate setting.
D. Advocating for professional conditions and resources that will improve learning
outcomes of individuals with exceptionalities.
Praxis style questions
1. Joey, a second-grade student in a general education classroom, has been having difficulty in
school since kindergarten. He was identified as having a specific learning disability and
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. His biggest challenges are his lack of progress in
learning how to read and staying on-task in the classroom. His teacher has consulted with a
special education teacher to try to accommodate Joey in her classroom, but he continues to
fall behind his classmates. The teacher, the special education teacher, and Joey‘s parents have
been considering having him spend more time in a resource classroom to receive specialized
instruction. This is consistent with which aspect of the principle of least restrictive
environment?
A. Full inclusion, all the time
B. Parent’s involvement in due process
C. Availability of a continuum of services
D. The zero-reject policy
2. Roberto, who speaks English as a second language, has been having difficulty with reading
and writing tasks in his third-grade class. After he is referred for testing, his scores on the
WISC-III are significantly sub average. His family contests the results of the testing. Which
of the following principles from IDEA might they cite as inconsistent with the test?
A. Zero reject
B. Nondiscriminatory assessment
C. Parent participation
D. Individualized education
3. Alfred, a 16 year old student with a specific learning disability in reading, is getting ready to
enter high school. Alfred reads at a fifth grade level. Which of the following English
Language Arts class placements may be most appropriate for Alfred?
A. Pre-college ELA course
B. General ELA course
C. General ELA course with occasional support from the special education teacher
D. Specialized ELA course with individualized content on Alfred’s reading level.
Short Answer
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1. Explain what is meant by the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).
2. Describe the unique issues when suspending or expelling students with special needs.
3. Describe the importance of procedural due process.
4. List and briefly explain each of the six principles of IDEA.
5. Explain the importance of teacher and paraprofessional collaboration.
Essay
1. Explain the integrated nature of the four national disability policy goals
2. Expand upon the importance of dignity in special education.
3. Explain each of IDEAs four parts and describe who benefits from Part B and Part C?
4. How do ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act benefit people with disabilities, and
how are these acts different from IDEA?
5. What are some of the protections educators must follow to conduct nondiscriminatory
evaluations of students with disabilities?
Chapter 1: The Purposes, People, and Law of Special Education
Multiple Choice
Praxis
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Short Answer
1. Schools must educate children with disabilities with children who do not have disabilities to
2. These students are subject to the zero-reject policy that ensures they will not be excluded from
education due to behavior that is a result of their disabling condition. They may be suspended
Essay
1. Special educators should work to prepare their students for a lifetime of success. This effort
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