NBPTS EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS SPECIALIST FINAL
PAPER 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS
ANSWERS
◉ Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504. Answer: Federal law
designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities;
prohibits discrimination in education, employment, and community
settings.
◉ Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Renamed Individuals
with Disabilities Act (IDEA, 2004)). Answer: Law ensuring services
to children with disabilities; children with disabilities should have
the opportunity to receive a free and appropriate education public
education, just like other children.
◉ Six Major Principles of IDEA. Answer: 1. Zero Reject
2. Protection in the evaluation process (non-bias testing)
3. Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
4. Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
5. Due Process Procedures (Procedural Safeguards)
6. Parent and Student Participation (shared decision making)
,◉ Four Key Purposes of IDEA. Answer: 1. To ensure all children with
disabilities are guaranteed a free and appropriate public education
(FAPE)
2. To assist states in establishing early intervention services for
infants and toddlers with disabilities.
3. To ensure that educators and parents have the necessary tools to
improve the education for all children with disabilities.
4. To assess the effectiveness of the education for children with
disabilities.
◉ Zero Reject. Answer: No child with a disability may be excluded
from a public education.
◉ Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). Answer: The
education of students with disabilities must be at the public expense
based on the development of an IEP that includes related services.
◉ ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act 1990). Answer: Based on
Section 504, it extends civil rights to individuals with disabilities in
prior sector employment, public services, public accommodations,
transportation, and telecommunication. These employment and
public services must accommodate persons with disabilities in an
appropriate and nondiscriminatory manner.
,◉ Board of Edu of the Hudson School District v. Rowley 1982.
Answer: Case upheld that each child with a disability has a right to
an individualized program and supportive services deemed
appropriate and necessary.
◉ Larry P. vs. Riles. Answer: Case ruled that IQ tests could not be
used as the primary or sole basis of playing students in special
programs.
◉ Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens v. The
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 1972. Answer: Case established the
right for all children with mental retardation to a free public
education.
◉ Hobson v. Hanson 1967. Answer: Case determined the tracking
system for regular and special education students based on
intelligence scores was unconstitutional for some populations of
students and could not be used.
◉ Mills v. Board of Edu 1972. Answer: Case that determined that
financial problems can not be a reason for the lack of appropriate
programs for children with disabilities.
◉ Honig v. Doe 1988. Answer: Ruled that students with disabilities
may not be excluded for misbehavior that is disability-related, but
services could cease if the behavior was not related to the disability.
, ◉ Irving Independence School District v. Tatro 1984. Answer: Case
forced the school to provide non-physician required medical
services to allow a physically impaired student to attend school.
◉ At what age are states mandated to implement services for
children in early childhood settings?. Answer: Ages 3-5
◉ 1. Inclusive and Consultative Model
2. Pulling and Integrated Model
3. Separate, Segregated Model
4. Private Setting. Answer: 1. General Education Classroom
2. Resource Room
3. Self-Contained Program
4. Separate School
◉ Adaptations. Answer: Makes changes in how the student accesses
the environment or in instructional delivery.
◉ Modification. Answer: This includes actual changes made to the
curriculum, to the environment, or to expectation of the
instructional task in order to meet the student's specific needs. This
is often imposed when the task is above the student's ability level, so
PAPER 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS
ANSWERS
◉ Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504. Answer: Federal law
designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities;
prohibits discrimination in education, employment, and community
settings.
◉ Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Renamed Individuals
with Disabilities Act (IDEA, 2004)). Answer: Law ensuring services
to children with disabilities; children with disabilities should have
the opportunity to receive a free and appropriate education public
education, just like other children.
◉ Six Major Principles of IDEA. Answer: 1. Zero Reject
2. Protection in the evaluation process (non-bias testing)
3. Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
4. Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
5. Due Process Procedures (Procedural Safeguards)
6. Parent and Student Participation (shared decision making)
,◉ Four Key Purposes of IDEA. Answer: 1. To ensure all children with
disabilities are guaranteed a free and appropriate public education
(FAPE)
2. To assist states in establishing early intervention services for
infants and toddlers with disabilities.
3. To ensure that educators and parents have the necessary tools to
improve the education for all children with disabilities.
4. To assess the effectiveness of the education for children with
disabilities.
◉ Zero Reject. Answer: No child with a disability may be excluded
from a public education.
◉ Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). Answer: The
education of students with disabilities must be at the public expense
based on the development of an IEP that includes related services.
◉ ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act 1990). Answer: Based on
Section 504, it extends civil rights to individuals with disabilities in
prior sector employment, public services, public accommodations,
transportation, and telecommunication. These employment and
public services must accommodate persons with disabilities in an
appropriate and nondiscriminatory manner.
,◉ Board of Edu of the Hudson School District v. Rowley 1982.
Answer: Case upheld that each child with a disability has a right to
an individualized program and supportive services deemed
appropriate and necessary.
◉ Larry P. vs. Riles. Answer: Case ruled that IQ tests could not be
used as the primary or sole basis of playing students in special
programs.
◉ Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens v. The
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 1972. Answer: Case established the
right for all children with mental retardation to a free public
education.
◉ Hobson v. Hanson 1967. Answer: Case determined the tracking
system for regular and special education students based on
intelligence scores was unconstitutional for some populations of
students and could not be used.
◉ Mills v. Board of Edu 1972. Answer: Case that determined that
financial problems can not be a reason for the lack of appropriate
programs for children with disabilities.
◉ Honig v. Doe 1988. Answer: Ruled that students with disabilities
may not be excluded for misbehavior that is disability-related, but
services could cease if the behavior was not related to the disability.
, ◉ Irving Independence School District v. Tatro 1984. Answer: Case
forced the school to provide non-physician required medical
services to allow a physically impaired student to attend school.
◉ At what age are states mandated to implement services for
children in early childhood settings?. Answer: Ages 3-5
◉ 1. Inclusive and Consultative Model
2. Pulling and Integrated Model
3. Separate, Segregated Model
4. Private Setting. Answer: 1. General Education Classroom
2. Resource Room
3. Self-Contained Program
4. Separate School
◉ Adaptations. Answer: Makes changes in how the student accesses
the environment or in instructional delivery.
◉ Modification. Answer: This includes actual changes made to the
curriculum, to the environment, or to expectation of the
instructional task in order to meet the student's specific needs. This
is often imposed when the task is above the student's ability level, so
