Special Education and IDEA Overview

A legal case that established the right to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) for children with disabilities. It ruled that intellectually disabled children should have access to public education and due process rights should be ensured.

This part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates states to actively identify children aged 0 to 2 for early intervention services, ensuring early support for their developmental needs.

The smallest units of meaning in language. Examples include prefixes, suffixes, and root words. For instance, the prefix "pre" in "preheat" carries the meaning of "before".

Statistical tests that work best with data measured on interval or ratio scales and assume that the data follows a normal distribution.

A common metric used to measure the effectiveness of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). It represents the number of times a student is sent to the office for disciplinary action.

A type of assessment given at the end of a grading period to review and summarize a student's academic or behavioral progress. They aim to determine if the student has reached their goals.

A therapeutic approach that emphasizes the choices individuals make and their consequences. It helps clients take responsibility for their lives by examining their decisions and their effectiveness.

A brief therapy approach that incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) principles. It focuses on desired outcomes and helps clients find solutions.

Refers to the connection between sounds and print, teaching the relationship between letters and the sounds they represent. It's a key tool for helping children make the connection between spoken words and written language.

The ability to notice, think about, and work with the individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words. It's a foundational skill for reading and spelling.

A civil rights law prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities in employment, public services, and accommodations. Aims to ensure accessibility and inclusion for individuals with disabilities.

A legal document outlining a student's special education needs, goals, and services. It's individualized to the student's unique needs and reviewed regularly to ensure progress.

The physical, emotional, social, and academic environment of a school, based on the perception of students, parents, and staff. It encompasses the overall feeling and experience within the school.

The strength of the relationship between two variables, measured on a scale from -1 to +1. A strong correlation indicates a strong relationship.

A legal requirement under IDEA that ensures all children with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education tailored to their individual needs.

A legal requirement under IDEA that states students with disabilities should be placed in the least restrictive environment appropriate to their needs, maximizing their inclusion in general education classrooms.

A set of strategies used to prevent academic difficulties by providing early intervention and support. It involves monitoring student progress and providing targeted interventions as needed.

A legal precedent that established that standardized tests can be used for placement decisions, but they must be culturally unbiased and used with other measures.

A legal precedent that prohibited the overrepresentation of minority students in special education classrooms. This decision aimed to ensure fair and equitable access to education for all students.

A civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in any program receiving federal funds. It provides a broader definition of a disability than IDEA.

A model that suggests instruction should be tailored to the student's current level of understanding, providing challenges that are neither too difficult nor too easy. This is beneficial for promoting learning and engagement.

Direct instruction in specific social-emotional skills that students may be lagging in, such as interpersonal skills or executive functioning. It's particularly relevant for Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions.

A measure of how positively students feel about the classroom and teacher, their sense of belonging, and support. This is a key component of student engagement.

A comprehensive and individualized assessment that identifies the function of a student's problem behavior/s when developing a plan to decrease unwanted behavior and increase desired behavior.

A broad assessment or process using classroom curriculum to assess student understanding of academic concepts taught.

A standardized assessment tool used to identify students at risk for academic difficulties.

A systematic method used to determine the needs of students.

The systematic collection of data to measure student growth and inform interventions.

Specific assessments used to determine a student's strengths and weaknesses, or whether they have mastered a specific target skill being taught.

The system of sounds that a language uses.

A problem-solving model that focuses on instruction, curriculum, environment, and learning style.

A theory of intelligence that posits two factors: general intelligence (g) and specific abilities (s).

Circumstances in which people live and work that shape students' mental health status and provide access to learning and mental health services.

The first tier of RTI, involving universal interventions implemented for all students.

The second tier of RTI, involving targeted interventions for students who are struggling.

The third tier of RTI, involving intensive, individualized interventions for students who require significant support.

Teachers use results to understand student learning and adjust instruction appropriately.

Comparing a student's progress to their own past performance, not to others.

Tests given before a unit begins or throughout the learning process to assess understanding.

A therapy that focuses on thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, believing that thoughts influence emotions and actions.

A therapy approach that emphasizes building a positive relationship with the client before addressing behavioral changes.

People learn by observing and imitating others, especially influential models.

A theory explaining how various systems in a student's life influence their behavior.

Focuses on the integration of thoughts, feelings, and actions, aiming to help individuals take control of their own lives.

A theory explaining how different environmental levels influence individual development.

The immediate surroundings of a student, including family, peers, and teachers.

The interactions and connections between individuals in the Microsystem.

The institutions and organizations that influence the student indirectly, like school, community, and work.

The broader cultural context and beliefs that shape the student's life.

Piaget's theory states that children develop cognitive abilities in stages, each with specific characteristics and limitations.

The understanding that an object continues to exist even when it's hidden.

A consultation approach where all parties involved in a behavior problem come together to solve it (e.g., parent, teacher, student).

A collaborative approach focused on enhancing the consultee's skills and understanding. It aims to improve the relationship between the consultee and the student.

This type of consultation considers cultural factors, values, and differences that may influence the consultation process and its effectiveness.

A model of cognitive functioning that divides the brain into four units: Planning, Attention, Simultaneous Processing, and Successive Processing.

A framework for understanding and responding to trauma, consisting of four key principles: realize, recognize, respond, and resist retraumatization.

This legal requirement in IDEA focuses on determining if a student's behavior that led to suspension or expulsion is directly related to their disability.

A structured approach to solving ethical dilemmas in a professional setting. It involves identifying the problem, defining issues, considering guidelines, and evaluating potential solutions.

A procedure that is discouraged except in extreme cases to ensure student safety.

Physical punishment of a student, which is strongly condemned by professionals like NASP.

Professional misconduct that results in harm to a student during a professional interaction.

The most frequent type of professional misconduct, often occurring when a student's suicide or injury could have been prevented by the practitioner.

The law guaranteeing homeless students' right to education under ESSA.

The first special education law in the US, which eventually evolved into IDEA.

A part of IDEA requiring states to identify and serve children with disabilities.

A law that provides funding for career and technical education programs.

A law that aimed to close the achievement gap by setting accountability standards for public schools.

A law that protects student privacy and confidentiality by regulating student record-keeping practices.

An approach that acknowledges cultural complexities and encourages self-reflection on biases.

The smallest sound unit that affects meaning in a language.

The study of word meanings and how they combine to create different meanings.

The rules that govern how words are combined into phrases, clauses, and sentences.

A set of rules about appropriate language use in different social contexts.

A stage during infancy (0-1 year) where the infant's primary focus is on activities involving the mouth, such as eating, sucking, and biting.

A stage in early childhood (2-3 years) where a child learns to control their bodily functions, particularly bowel movements. This involves learning to delay gratification and gain a sense of control.

A stage in preschool years (3-5) marked by heightened sexual curiosity and awareness of differences between genders. It plays a crucial role in the development of gender identity.

A period during middle childhood (6-12 years) where sexual drives are suppressed, and children focus on developing friendships and social skills with peers of the same gender.

The final stage of psychosexual development (12+ years) where sexual desires reawaken and are directed toward peers.

A system in the brain responsible for processing and regulating emotions. It includes structures like the amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus.

A section of the brain located at the back of the head that is primarily responsible for processing visual information.

An area of the brain located near the top and back of the head, responsible for sensory interpretation, spatial awareness, and certain cognitive functions.

A part of the cerebral cortex responsible for receiving and processing sensory information from the body, such as touch, temperature, and pain.

Chemical messengers in the brain that allow neurons to communicate with each other. They play a critical role in various brain functions, including mood, behavior, and cognition.

A neurotransmitter associated with reward, pleasure, motivation, and movement. It plays a role in addiction and learning.

Neurotransmitters released by the body to reduce pain and create a feeling of well-being. They are often released during physical activity.

A neurotransmitter that helps stabilize mood, regulate sleep, and control appetite. It is also involved in social behavior.

The primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, playing a key role in learning, memory, and cognitive function. It is critical for communication between neurons.

A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled that racially segregated public schools are unconstitutional, based on the principle of "separate but equal" being inherently unequal.

A court case that ruled that schools must provide equal educational opportunities for students regardless of their family's socioeconomic status, ensuring access to quality education for all.

A landmark case establishing that assessments used for educational placement must be administered in the student's native language to ensure equitable and valid testing practices.

A case highlighting the need for schools to provide accommodations for English language learners (ELLs) to ensure they can effectively access education. This includes language support and appropriate instructional methods.

A legal ruling that schools are obligated to provide medical services that do not require a physician, such as administering medication or providing nursing care, as long as it is necessary to ensure a child's educational needs are met.

A behavior that results from the belief that one cannot control events in their environment. It can lead to a feeling of helplessness and a lack of motivation to try new things.

A tic disorder with a possible genetic component that can be triggered by stressful events or a virus. May involve involuntary twitching, facial expressions, or verbal outbursts.

A series of steps used to ensure safety during a school emergency. The steps are: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, Shelter.

The process of implementing a new intervention in a school setting. It involves stages of dissemination, adoption, initial implementation, and evaluation.

An individual who works to put innovations into practice. They often act as a leader or facilitator, promoting change and supporting others in the process.

Individuals directly involved in teaching or presenting interventions. They are the ones who implement the interventions in their classrooms or settings directly.

Individuals who support or assist with the implementation of interventions. They may provide resources, training, or guidance but don't directly teach or deliver the intervention.

A set of practices designed to prevent bullying. They typically involve teaching prosocial behavior, social skills, and adaptive coping skills, raising awareness, and developing clear school policies.

A whole-group instruction approach where all students in a classroom receive the same curriculum at the same pace. This practice is considered unacceptable due to its potential to limit individual learning and progress.

Programs that involve students in service to others. They foster social-emotional competency, empathy, and a sense of responsibility.

The framework that emphasizes the importance of collaboration among schools, families, and communities to address inequities and empower students.

Modifications to teaching materials and instruction that make learning accessible to all students. This approach aims to create inclusive learning environments that cater to diverse needs.

A consultation model that focuses on one environment and uses a problem-solving approach to address specific behavioral issues in that environment.

A model of professional development that encourages staff members to meet regularly to examine data, discuss practices, and collaboratively plan for student growth.

Refers to working with school staff to develop a system for recognizing positive student behavior. This approach aims to promote positive behavior and create a more supportive school environment.

Multiple incidents of unwanted aggressive behavior directed at a target based on their race, color, weight, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, etc. It involves abuse of power and can include physical, verbal, relational, or cyberbullying.

A research method that examines the strength of the relationship between two or more variables. It helps determine if variables change together.

The condition the researcher manipulates to study its effect on the dependent variable.

The condition or outcome that is measured by the researcher. It's the variable that is affected by the independent variable.

A special type of analysis that allows consideration of 'nested' groups to understand influence within hierarchies, like the impact of a student within a classroom.

A way to analyze the results of several research studies to determine an overall or absolute effect.

A type of statistical test that uses ordinal or nominal data, does not assume a normal distribution, and is less powerful than parametric tests.

A research study that uses repeated measurements to understand an individual's variability and the effects of treatment.

An experimental design where both the participants and researchers are unaware of who receives the actual intervention.

A metric that helps determine if a change in the dependent variable is a real change due to the independent variable or simply due to chance.

A way to quantify the size of the differences between two groups, showing the practical significance of the findings.

The frequency or likelihood of an event occurring without intervention. It's important to consider in making accurate diagnoses.

The gold standard in experimental designs, where both the group members and the researchers are unaware of which group receives the actual intervention.

A research approach used by school psychologists to solve practical problems within schools or districts. It focuses on direct and specific settings.

A measure of the agreement between two or more observers who are rating the same behavior or event. It helps ensure reliability of observations.

The most appropriate design for evaluating the effectiveness of an intervention for three separate students by comparing their behavior before, during, and after the intervention.

A scale used for data that can be ordered from least to greatest, but the intervals between values are not equal.

A scale where data falls into named categories, with no inherent order.

A scale with equal intervals between values, where zero represents the absence of the quantity being measured.

A statistical test used to compare the means of more than two groups.