FTCE Exceptional Student Education (ESE) K-12 Practice Test

What philosophical change is represented by the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA)?

1. Transitioning from segregation to integration

2. Implementing stricter compliance measures

3. Eliminating testing for all disability categories

4. Reducing funding for schools servicing disabled students

The correct answer is: Transitioning from segregation to integration

The philosophical change represented by the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) is the transition from segregation to integration. This legislation marked a significant shift in how students with disabilities were educated, emphasizing the importance of inclusion within regular education settings. IDEA ensures that students with disabilities have the right to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE) possible. The act promotes the idea that all students, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, should be educated alongside their peers to the greatest extent appropriate. This represents a move away from the prior practices of segregating students with disabilities in separate classrooms or schools, where they often received limited exposure to their typically developing peers. By fostering an inclusive environment, IDEA aims to improve educational outcomes and social interactions for students with disabilities, acknowledging their right to participate fully in the educational process alongside all students.