Special Education Cheat Sheet

The core ideas of Special Education distilled into a single, scannable reference — perfect for review or quick lookup.

PiqCue — piqcue.com/special-education/cheatsheet

Quick Reference

Individualized Education Program (IEP)

A legally binding document developed for each public school student who qualifies for special education services. It outlines the student's present levels of performance, measurable annual goals, the services and supports to be provided, and how progress will be measured.

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)

A principle under IDEA requiring that students with disabilities be educated alongside their non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate. Removal from general education classes should occur only when supplementary aids and services cannot achieve satisfactory results.

Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)

A right guaranteed under IDEA that ensures every eligible student with a disability receives special education and related services at public expense, under public supervision, and in conformity with the student's IEP, without charge to the family.

Response to Intervention (RTI)

A multi-tiered framework for the early identification and support of students with learning and behavior needs. It uses increasingly intensive levels of evidence-based instruction and progress monitoring to determine whether a student responds to intervention or may need special education evaluation.

Inclusion

An educational philosophy and practice in which students with disabilities are fully integrated into general education classrooms and school communities, with appropriate supports and services delivered within that setting rather than in separate environments.

Section 504 Plan

A plan developed under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that provides accommodations and modifications for students with disabilities who do not qualify for an IEP but still need support to access the general education curriculum on an equal basis.

Transition Planning

A coordinated set of activities and goals included in a student's IEP beginning no later than age 16 (or earlier in some states) that focuses on improving academic and functional outcomes to facilitate movement from school to post-school activities such as employment, higher education, and independent living.

Assistive Technology

Any device, piece of equipment, or system that helps a person with a disability perform tasks that would otherwise be difficult or impossible. In education, assistive technology ranges from low-tech tools like pencil grips to high-tech solutions like speech-generating devices.

Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)

A plan based on a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) that identifies the function of a student's challenging behavior and outlines proactive strategies, replacement behaviors, and consequence procedures to reduce the behavior and teach appropriate alternatives.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

A research-based framework for curriculum design that provides all students with equal opportunities to learn by offering multiple means of engagement, representation, and action and expression. UDL aims to reduce barriers in instruction proactively rather than retrofitting accommodations.

Key Terms at a Glance

Accommodation:A change in how a student accesses or demonstrates learning that does not alter the content standard or expectation.

Assistive Technology:Any device, equipment, or system used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a person with a disability.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD):A developmental disability characterized by differences in social communication, social interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors and interests.

Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP):A written plan based on a Functional Behavior Assessment that outlines strategies to address challenging behavior.

Child Find:The IDEA mandate requiring states to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities who may need special education services.

Co-Teaching:An instructional model in which a general education teacher and a special education teacher share responsibility for planning, delivering, and assessing instruction for a diverse group of students.

Due Process:Procedural safeguards under IDEA that protect the rights of families, including notification, consent, participation, and dispute resolution.

Dyslexia:A specific learning disability in reading characterized by difficulties with accurate and fluent word recognition, decoding, and spelling.

Eligibility:The formal determination that a student meets the criteria for one of the 13 IDEA disability categories and requires special education services.

Extended School Year (ESY):Special education services provided beyond the regular school year for students who would otherwise experience significant regression.

FAPE:Free Appropriate Public Education; the right of every eligible student with a disability to receive special education at no cost.

Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA):A systematic process for identifying the function of a student's challenging behavior by examining antecedents, behaviors, and consequences.

IDEA:The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; the primary federal law ensuring special education services for eligible students with disabilities.

IEP:Individualized Education Program; a legally binding document outlining a student's goals, services, accommodations, and progress monitoring.

Inclusion:The practice of educating students with disabilities in general education classrooms with appropriate supports and services.

Get study tips in your inbox

We'll send you evidence-based study strategies and new cheat sheets as they're published.

We'll notify you about updates. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.