SPECIAL EDUCATION TERMS
(Click her for a list of commonly used acronyms in LISD Special Education)
A • B • C • D • E • F • G • H • I • J • K • L • M • N • O • P • Q • R • S • T • U • V • W • X • Y • Z
A
Academic Life Skills (ALS)
Instructional setting which focuses on academics and functional life skills..
Academic and Vocational / Prevocational Life Skills (AVLS)
Instructional setting which focuses on vocational/pre-vocational, functional life skills, as well as academics related to daily living.
Accelerated Instructional Plan
Intervention plan for accelerated instruction. The purpose of the AIP is to assist the student in achieving grade level achievement.
Achievement Test
A test designed to measure a child=s knowledge, skill and understanding in subject areas. For instance, these tests may measure the child's reading comprehension, math calculation or spelling capability as compared to other children in the same grade or same age.
Adaptive Behavior
The ability to socially function in school, home or community environment. It involves skills such as: making friends, bathing and dressing appropriately, being punctual for appointments, budgeting, etc.
Adequate Yearly Progress
The method by which each state measures all students’ ability to meet the state’s student academic achievement standards.
Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) Committee
This Committee makes decisions regarding the special education needs of the child. It determines if the child has a disability, if special education services are needed, and if modifications in general education are required. The parent or surrogate parent is an important member, and is encouraged to attend and participate. An ARD is called an IEP meeting in other states in accordance with IDEA.
Age / Grade Equivalent
The scores from tests given to a student are defined in years and months that are equal to the average score of children of that age/grade group.
Annual Goals
These are broad academic or behavioral goals the child is to accomplish for the year (i.e., Lisa will master TEKS at the third grade level with 70% accuracy. Must be measurable according to IDEA re-authorization [1997]).
Assessment
A process of determining student skills through a variety of means. Assessment
includes state or district wide tests (e.g., TAKS, SDAA, RTPE or district administered achievement tests) and informal skill determination that occurs on an on-going basis in the classroom by the student=s teacher. Assessment does not require parental consent
Audiological Services
This related service includes the evaluation of hearing ability and recommendation of certain types of hearing equipment for a child with a hearing impairment.
Auditory Impairment
A disability in which the child has hearing problems which delay or prevent him/her from developing speech, language or academic skill.
Autism
A rare disorder with a neurological basis, in which the child experiences severe language disorders, may display inappropriate bizarre behaviors, have abnormal intellectual capability, and have impaired social interactions.
B
Battery of Tests
A group of tests given to a child to determine strengths and weaknesses.
Benchmark
An intermediate step or level attained in acquiring a new skill.
C
Central Nervous System
The brain and spinal cord.
Cognitive
Intellectual abilities, such as memory and the ability to solve problems and make judgments.
Comprehensive Learner Adapted Scope & Sequence
Computerized program used to assess student skill gaps and generate goals for assisting teachers in the development of IEPs.
Consent
Before a child can be tested or placed in a special education program, a parent must give written permission for these services to take place. Consent is required for all formal evaluations.
Criteria
The level of skill acquisition set by the ARD Committee and used to determine whether or not an educational goal/objective is being met. For example, a criteria for spelling achievement is correctly spelling 9 out of 10 words.
Cumulative Record
The main school file for a student's educational records. The records begin
when a child enters school and follows the child from school to school. They include information about health records, grades, attendance and achievement tests.
Curriculum
The subject matter a school is going to teach the child, including the use of special activities and materials to help the child learn. In Texas, curricular activities are the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
D
Deaf-Blindness
Students who meet the criteria for both Visual Impairment and Auditory Impairment fall into this category. The combination of these impairments causes such severe, significant communication and other developmental and educational problems, that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for children with deafness or children with blindness.
Due Process
A guarantee of rights and privileges that neither the government nor any other
public agency can take away. For example, the parent's right to be notified before any action can be taken concerning their child.
E
Early Childhood
Public school education can begin at age 3 years for young children with a disability. Currently referred to as Public Preschool for Children with Disabilities (PPCD).
Educational Benefit
Educational benefit is the second prong of the requirement for providing FAPE. Four factors for evaluating whether a child is receiving educational benefit:
1. whether there is an individualized program based on the student's assessment and performance;
2. whether the individualized program is administered in the least restrictive environment (LRE);
3. whether the services are provided in a coordinated and collaborative manner by the key stakeholders and;
4. whether positive benefits are demonstrated both academically and non-academically.
Educational Diagnostician
A professional in special education who gives tests to determine the academic and intellectual abilities of children. In some districts/states a school psychologist a LSSP (Licensed Specialist in School Psychology), or a psychometrist may fulfill this role.
Education Service Center (ESC)
One of 20 regional offices within Texas to provide consultation, professional development and assistance to local school districts. Our local region is ESC XI and includes the counties of Cooke, Denton, Erath, Hood, Johnson, Parker, Pinto, Somervell, Tarrant and Wise.
Emotional Disturbance (ED)
A disability in which a child's behavior is interfering with social skills, coping skills and/or academic areas.
English Language Proficiency Observation Protocols (ELPOP)
Observation protocols that allow teachers to holistically rate each LEP student’s English language proficiency based on classroom observation and daily interaction with the student.
Evaluation
An evaluation consists of tests or measures used to determine the child=s special needs. Evaluation may include intellectual, social, emotional, educational achievement, physical, auditory, speech, language, etc. Parental consent is required for evaluation.
Expressive Language
Describes how a child uses spoken or written language to communicate with others. Expressive language can also include gestures or hand signs.
Eye-Hand Coordination
The ability to use the eye and hand simultaneously to effectively complete a task. Activities of eye-hand coordination include copying designs from a book, cutting with scissors on a line, or painting with a brush.
F
Fine Motor Development
The skills developed by a child that involve precision tasks done with the hands, such as writing, gripping an object, playing with puzzles, stringing beads, etc.
Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
In order to offer a free appropriate public education, the school district must comply with the procedural requirements of IDEA and the school district must design and implement a program reasonably calculated to enable the child to receive educational benefits.
Functional Life Skills (FLS)
Functional life skills classes are designed to provide instruction for students whose educational needs cannot be met in other settings. Students have severe to profound delays in the area of cognition and are generally non-ambulatory and/or medically fragile.
G
General Education Program
Education programs for all students. Students with disabilities must be allowed access to the general education program.
Grade Placement Committee
Makes decisions regarding a plan for accelerated instruction and grade advancement for students that do no pass the state mandated tests. (For students with disabilities, this is the ARD Committee.)
Gross Motor Development
A person's large muscle development exhibited in such skills as crawling, walking, jumping, throwing or running.
Guardian
A person who has legal authority to make decisions for a minor. The parent is the legal guardian of a minor child. A person 18 years or older does not have a guardian unless one is appointed by a court.
H
Homebound Program
An instructional arrangement for special education in which the teacher instructs the student at the hospital or home for a minimum of four hours a week.
I
Inclusion
An educational philosophy in which all children with disabilities are educated in only general education classrooms. The special services needed by the child would be provided within the general classroom setting.
IDEA
An acronym for The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Federal legislation which amended PL94-142 by adding two new disabilities (TBI & Autism), and required the planning of post secondary transitional services (Individual Transition Plan). IDEA was last reauthorized in 2004.
Individualized Education Program (IEP)
A written plan for education and related services. It contains the educational/behavioral goals and objectives, present levels of performance, the amount of special education services needed and modifications for the general education program. The IEP is reviewed for progress each year.
Intelligence Quotient (IQ)
A score which reflects a child=s mental abilities and cognitive development. The IQ score of the average person ranges from 90 to 110 points.
Implementation
Describes how a child's special services will be provided.
Individual Transition Plan
Plan to transition students successfully from high school into post secondary experiences. It is developed as a part of an ARD/IEP meeting.
Interpreter Service
This related service provides sign language help for children with hearing impairments.
J
K
L
Learning Disability (LD)
A disability in which a child with average or above average intelligence has significant problems in academic achievement (basic reading, reading comprehension, math calculation, math reasoning, listening comprehension, oral expression or written expression).
Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
Assurances that a child with a disability is educated to the maximum extent possible with non-disabled students.
Locally Determined Alternate Assessment (LDAA)
Assessment of skills determined by the ARD Committee for students whose instruction is not based on the TEKS. The last LDAA is spring 2007.
M
Mainstream
A child with disabilities is placed in all general education classes without regularly scheduled special education services.
Managing Conservator
A suitable, competent adult, parent or authorized agency appointed by the court to have responsibilities and rights of a parent. When a public agency is managing conservator of a child with disabilities, a surrogate parent must be appointed.
Mental Age
A child's mental ability compared to children of the same chronological age. For example, a child with retardation may have a mental age of 4 years but might be 18 years old.
Mental Retardation (MR)
A disability for children whose intellectual ability is significantly lower than the average person. IQ score of 70 or below.
Multi-disciplinary Team
More than two educational professionals working together to evaluate and help a special child. May include a variety of disciplines, e.g., teacher, speech pathologist, counselor, psychologist, OT, PT.
Multiple Disability
An eligibility that applies when a combination of impairments occurs that is expected to continue indefinitely and severely impairs performance in two or more of the following areas: psychomotor skills, self-care skills, communication, social and emotional development or cognition.
N
No Child Left Behind
2002 revision of the 1994 Improving America’s Schools Act.
O
Occupational Therapy (OT)
A related service to help a child develop fine motor skills. The OT may also suggest equipment to help children in daily activities.
Orthopedic Impairment (OI)
A disability category for a child with physical challenges of the bones, joints or muscles that affect the ability to move.
Other Health Impairment (OHI)
A disability category for children with serious health problems that limit their strength, vitality or alertness. These serious health problems may be heart disease, seizure disorders, cancer, respiratory disorders, etc.
P
Physical Therapy (PT)
A related service provided to a child who has difficulty using motor skills (large and fine muscles).
Present Level of Performance
Describes the present skill level of a student.
Psychological Services
A related service which may include evaluation of social and emotional behaviors of a child. A psychologist may also provide counseling/therapy to the child, or consult with the family or teachers to work on the child's challenging behaviors.
Public Law 94-142
Legislation passed by the U.S. Congress guaranteeing a free, appropriate education for all disabled children. It is now PL108-446.
Q
R
Reading for Proficiency Test in English
Test administered to limited English proficient (LEP) students in grades 3-12. RPTE is part of the comprehensive system for assisting LEP students’ academic progress.
Receptive Language
Describes how a child receives and understands verbal and non-verbal information from others.
Reinforcement
Positive praise or other rewards (food, toys, etc.) given to a child when they successfully complete a task.
Related Service
Special programs a child can receive if he/she needs special help or support in learning. These services may include occupational therapy, physical therapy, audiological services, psychological services , interpreter, orientation and mobility training, as well as others. Related services are provided, when appropriate, to support the implementation of the IEP.
Resource Room
A special education instructional arrangement where a student can spend a part of their school day receiving special instruction. The majority of the student’s instruction will be from general education teachers.
S
Schedule of Services
A schedule of the student's classes which designates all of the student's daily
services, whether each subject/service is provided in general or special education
and the amount of time the student receives in each subject/service.
Section 504
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which protects the rights of persons with disabilities from discrimination on the basis of a disability.
Self-Contained Classroom
An instructional arrangement in which a student receives the major portion of daily instruction from a special education teacher. May include more restrictive placement due to significant academic or behavioral needs.
Self-help Skills
Skills that a child uses in daily living, such as eating, dressing and toileting.
Service Plan
A plan for private/home school students selected to receive a part or all of the special education services they would be entitled if enrolled full time in the public schools.
Short-term Objective
Small instructional steps which lead to the accomplishment of the child's annual goal. These objectives must be observable and measurable. May also be called benchmarks.
Special Education
Those services which are additional or different from those provided to typical students. Special curriculum, materials, teaching techniques, management strategies and equipment are provided to meet the needs of children with disabilities.
Speech Impairment (SI)
A disability category for children having expressive and/or receptive language difficulties or with voice/fluency impairments.
Speech and Language Therapy
Therapy which includes evaluation and instruction in articulation, fluency (stuttering), voice stress or expressive/receptive language skills. Speech therapy in the public schools must be based on educational needs of the students.
State Developed Alternative Assessment (SDAA)
The Texas developed assessment that is modified in content and language to assess special education students' acquisition of the TEKS. The last year of the SDAA is spring 2007.
Student Success Initiative
The SSI is a set of three initiatives that together provide a system of academic support to help ensure achievement on grade level in reading and math, so that every student can succeed throughout his or her school career.
Support Opportunities for Students (SOS) / Mainstream
Special education supports and services provided to students in general education classes and in some pull-out settings.
There are two underlying principles of the service that are essential to its success.
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Students can learn and succeed in the mainstream with appropriate accommodations and support.
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Students receiving SOS must receive some service(s) outside the general education classroom but may also receive instructional supports in the general education classroom. The amount of pull-out time must be designated on the schedule of services.
Surrogate Parent
A surrogate parent must be appointed for any child in special education whose parents’ rights have been terminated or the parents are unknown. A surrogate parent represents a student in all the same matters that would require a natural parent's involvement
T
Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) (formerly TAAS)
Texas developed state assessment for determining students' acquisition of the TEKS.
Texas Behavior Support Initiative
Designed to build campus level knowledge and skills on the use of positive behavior supports for students with disabilities.
Texas Education Agency (TEA)
The state agency that is responsible for administering all educational programs in Texas.
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
A revision of curriculum standards adopted by the Texas State Board of Education. Replaces the Essential Elements (EEs) of Chapter 75.
Texas Primary Reading Inventory
Informal assessment developed to provide teachers with a means of determining where along the continuum of growth the students are progressing as readers.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
A disability category for children who have experienced an injury to the brain caused by external forces.
U
V
Visual Impairment (VI)
A disability category for children with difficulties processing visual information. Partially sighted children have a visual acuity of 20/60 with correction and can read print. Blindness is defined as central vision of 20/200 with correction or field vision (side vision) of no more than 20 degrees.
W
X
Y
Z
COMMON ACRONYMS IN LISD SPECIAL EDUCATION
ABLLS Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills
ADA American with Disabilities Act of 1990
ADD Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHD Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
AEIS Academic Excellence Indicator Systems
AI Auditory Impairment
AIP Accelerated Instruction Plan
ALS Academic Life Skills
APE Adapted Physical Education
ARD Admission, Review and Dismissal Committee
ASL American Sign Language
ASSIST Adopting Successful Supports and Interventions for Students and Teachers
AT Assistive Technology
AU Autism
AVLS Academic and Vocational / Prevocational Life Skills
AYP Annual Yearly Progress
BIP Behavior Intervention Plan
CAP Comprehensive Analysis Process
CATE Career and Technology Education
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CLASS Comprehensive Learner Adapted Scope and Sequence
COP Change of Placement Monitor
CPI Crisis Prevention Intervention
CPS Child Protective Services
CR Commissioner's Rules
CR Consultation Request
CSR Confidential Student Report
DAEP District Alternative Educational Program
DB Deaf/Blind
DEC District Effectiveness and Compliance
DER Disability Eligibility Report
DSM-IV Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - 4th Ed.
EC Early Childhood - see PPCD
ECI Early Childhood Intervention
ED Emotional Disturbance
EE Early Education
EEP Extended Educational Programming
EHA Education for the Handicapped Act (P.L. 94-142)
ELPOP English Language Proficiency Observation Protocols
ER Evaluation Request
ESC Education Service Center
ESL English as a Second Language
ESY Extended School Year
FAPE Free Appropriate Public Education
FBA Functional Behavior Assessment
FERPA Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
FIE Full Individual Evaluation
FLS Functional Life Skills
FVE Functional Vision Evaluation
GAI General Ability Index (WISC IV)
GIA General Intellectual Ability (WJIII Cog)
GPC Grade Placement Committee
HB Homebound Program
HI Hearing Impaired
HLS Home Language Survey
ICF-MR Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded
IDEA Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
IEE Independent Educational Evaluation
IEP Individualized Education Program
IFSP Individual Family Service Plan
ITP Individual Transition Plan
IQ Intelligence Quotient
JJAEP Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program
LAS Language Assessment Scales
LD Learning Disability
LDAA Locally Determined Alternate Assessment
LEA Local Education Agency
LEP Limited English Proficient
LMA Learning Media Assessment
LPAC Language Proficiency Assessment Committee
LRE Least Restrict Environment
LSSP Licensed Specialist in School Psychology
MD Multiple Disabilities
MDR Manifest Determination Review
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
MR Mental Retardation
NCEC Non-Categorical Early Childhood
NCLB No Child Left Behind
OCR Office of Civil Rights
OHI Other Health Impaired
OI Orthopedically Impaired
O&M Orientation & Mobility
OSEP Office of Special Education Programs
OSERS Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
OT Occupational Therapy
PBS Positive Behavioral Supports
PEIMS Public Education Information Management System
PDD-NOS Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified
PHLOTE Primary Home Language Other Than English
PLOP Present Level of Performance
PPCD Public Preschool for Children with Disabilities
PT Physical Therapy
REED Review of Existing Evaluation Data
RDSPD Regional Day School Program for the Deaf
RPTE Reading Proficiency Test in English
SAC Social Adjustment Class
SAPP School Age Parenting Program
SBOE State Board of Education
SDAA State Developed Alternative Assessment
SEA State Education Agency
SEMS Special Education Management System
SERS Special Education Resource System
SETS Special Education Tracking System
SI Speech Impairment
SITP Student Intervention Team Plan
SMSCD Student with the Most Significant Cognitive Deficits
SOS Support Opportunities for Students
SP Service Plan
SSI Student Success Initiative
TAAS Texas Assessment of Academic Skills
TAC Texas Administrative Code
TAKS Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (formerly TAAS)
TBI Traumatic Brain Injury
TBSI Texas Behavior Support Initiative
TDMHMR Texas Department of Mental Health/Mental Retardation
TDPRS Texas Department of Protective & Regulatory Service
TEA Texas Education Agency
TEC Texas Education Code
TEKS Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills
TELPAS Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment Summary
TPRI Texas Primary Reading Inventory
TRC Texas Rehabilitation Commission
TSBVI Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
TSD Texas School for the Deaf
TU Transition Unit
TWC Texas Work Force Commission
TYC Texas Youth Commission
VAC Vocational Adjustment Coordinator/Class
VEH Vocational Education for the Handicapped
VI Visual Impairment |
