NBPTS EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS SPECIALIST EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
FAPE - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Special Education Services that are provided at public expense must meet
standards of that state's educational agency. Must be available to preschool, elementary, and secondary
levels and must follow individual education plans
IDEA - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Under the individuals with disabilities education act, local educational
agencies are legally obligated to provide all children, not some and not others, but all children eligible to
receive special education and related services with a FAPE.
compensatory education - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a compensation fund that helps your child catch up
on lost time, hours, and related services for the duration of when your child was denied a FAPE, the
amount of time and services that your child missed is what we commonly refer to as compensatory
education
modification - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Changing the content, material, or delivery of instruction. Change
"what" is learned.
accommodation - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅changes "how" a student learns the material. Typically the
environment and materials.
IEP - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Individualized Education Plan - Provides individualized special education
and related services to meet a child's unique needs.
These services are provided at no cost to families.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Is a section of the a federal civil
rights law which reads in part, that no "otherwise qualified handicapped individual" shall be excluded
from participation in program or activity receiving federal financial assistance ("college, university or
other post-secondary institution, or a public system of higher education") It is much broader in its
definition of "handicap" than is the IDEA and it is a much more general law in that it doesn't not provide
specific direction on how to address the needs of individuals with disabilities, referring only to the fact
that schools must make "reasonable accommodations." Because of its broader definition students who
do not qualify for special education services under the IDEA may be considered "handicap" under
Section 504.
, IEP vs. 504 - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅IEP students are protected by IDEA
504 students are protected by ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Passed by Congress in 1991, this act banned
discrimination against the disabled in employment and mandated easy access to all public and
commerical buildings.
IEE - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Families can ask the school district to pay for an independent educational
evaluation (IEE) by an outside expert. The district doesn't have to agree.
Families can always pay for an outside evaluation themselves, but the district may not give it much
weight.
IFSP - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅early intervention services and planning for an infant/toddler to three
years old and their family
Annual Goals (IEP) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅The IEP document lists the academic and functional
(everyday) skills the IEP team thinks a student can achieve by the end of a school year. These goals are
geared toward helping students take part in the general education curriculum. IEP goals need to be
realistic and measurable .
SMART goals - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-bound
Assistive Technology - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Any device, equipment, or software that helps students
learn, communicate, and function better in school. AT ranges from simple tools (like highlighters) to
high-tech software (like apps that read text aloud).
BIP - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅A plan designed to proactively teach and reinforce positive behavior.
Typically, the plan uses strategies to prevent and address behavior that gets in the way of learning. It
may also have supports and aids for the student. A BIP is often included as part of an IEP. To get a BIP, a
student must have a functional behavioral assessment .
AND ANSWERS
FAPE - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Special Education Services that are provided at public expense must meet
standards of that state's educational agency. Must be available to preschool, elementary, and secondary
levels and must follow individual education plans
IDEA - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Under the individuals with disabilities education act, local educational
agencies are legally obligated to provide all children, not some and not others, but all children eligible to
receive special education and related services with a FAPE.
compensatory education - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a compensation fund that helps your child catch up
on lost time, hours, and related services for the duration of when your child was denied a FAPE, the
amount of time and services that your child missed is what we commonly refer to as compensatory
education
modification - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Changing the content, material, or delivery of instruction. Change
"what" is learned.
accommodation - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅changes "how" a student learns the material. Typically the
environment and materials.
IEP - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Individualized Education Plan - Provides individualized special education
and related services to meet a child's unique needs.
These services are provided at no cost to families.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Is a section of the a federal civil
rights law which reads in part, that no "otherwise qualified handicapped individual" shall be excluded
from participation in program or activity receiving federal financial assistance ("college, university or
other post-secondary institution, or a public system of higher education") It is much broader in its
definition of "handicap" than is the IDEA and it is a much more general law in that it doesn't not provide
specific direction on how to address the needs of individuals with disabilities, referring only to the fact
that schools must make "reasonable accommodations." Because of its broader definition students who
do not qualify for special education services under the IDEA may be considered "handicap" under
Section 504.
, IEP vs. 504 - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅IEP students are protected by IDEA
504 students are protected by ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Passed by Congress in 1991, this act banned
discrimination against the disabled in employment and mandated easy access to all public and
commerical buildings.
IEE - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Families can ask the school district to pay for an independent educational
evaluation (IEE) by an outside expert. The district doesn't have to agree.
Families can always pay for an outside evaluation themselves, but the district may not give it much
weight.
IFSP - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅early intervention services and planning for an infant/toddler to three
years old and their family
Annual Goals (IEP) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅The IEP document lists the academic and functional
(everyday) skills the IEP team thinks a student can achieve by the end of a school year. These goals are
geared toward helping students take part in the general education curriculum. IEP goals need to be
realistic and measurable .
SMART goals - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-bound
Assistive Technology - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Any device, equipment, or software that helps students
learn, communicate, and function better in school. AT ranges from simple tools (like highlighters) to
high-tech software (like apps that read text aloud).
BIP - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅A plan designed to proactively teach and reinforce positive behavior.
Typically, the plan uses strategies to prevent and address behavior that gets in the way of learning. It
may also have supports and aids for the student. A BIP is often included as part of an IEP. To get a BIP, a
student must have a functional behavioral assessment .
