IDEA & LEGAL FOUNDATIONS
Free Appropriate Public Education
What does FAPE stand for?
PLAAFP (Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance)
What section of the IEP describes strengths, needs, and current performance?
Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
ADHD
Emotional/Behavioral Disorder (EBD)
Speech/Language Impairment (SLI)
What are high-incidence disabilities?
Universal Design for Learning
What does UDL stand for?
Student educational records and privacy
What does FERPA protect?
To ensure students with disabilities are educated with nondisabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate.
What is the purpose of LRE?
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound
What does a SMART goal need to include? OR What is aSMART goal?
School determination requiring evidence of educational impact
What is the educational eligibility for a disability?
Flexible grouping
Tiered assignments
Choice boards
Different materials or levels of support
What is differentiated instruction?
It confuses families, creates barriers, and prevents meaningful collaboration.
Why avoid jargon when communicating with parents?
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973)
Which law prohibits disability discrimination in any program receiving federal funding?
Changes access, not expectations
What is an accomodation?
Difficulty decoding
Phonological processing deficits
Slow, labored reading
Difficulty spelling
What is dyslexia?
Ensures comprehension, clarifies misconceptions early, and prevents students from falling behind.
Why is checking for understanding essential for exceptional learners?
Address privately and professionally
Notify special education case manager
Document concern
Follow chain of command
What should a teacher do if a colleague isn’t implementing accommodations?
IEPs must enable “appropriately ambitious” progress, not minimal or trivial progress.
In Endrew F. (2017), what did the Supreme Court say IEPs must now ensure?
Progress monitoring data (evidence collected over time)
What data is used to determine progress on an IEP goal?
chronic aggression, withdrawal, anxiety, or difficulty maintaining relationships.
What is EBD (Emotional and Behavioral Disorder)?
Behavior-specific praise
Scheduled breaks
Visual behavior expectations
Token systems
What are positive behavior support strategies?
“I can understand why this feels overwhelming, and I want us to work together to support your child.”
What is empathetic communication statement?
The right to request an IEP meeting at any time
The right to participate in the meeting
The right to access educational records
The right to receive prior written notice
What are procedural safeguards/parent rights under IDEA regarding IEP meetings?
Parent/guardian
General education teacher
Special education teacher
LEA representative
Someone who can interpret evaluation results (may be one of the above)
Student when appropriate
What team members must be present at an IEP meeting?
Impaired attention
Difficulty organizing
Impulse control challenges
Poor working memory
How does ADHD affect executive functioning?
Visual task lists
Chunking tasks
Timers
Prompting strategies
What are strategies for supporting task initiation difficulties?
To speak up for student needs, rights, and access to supports, even when it is uncomfortable.
What does it mean for a teacher to advocate?