STUDY GUIDE FOR THE SPECIAL EDUCATION COMPREHENSIVE EXAM This is a general guide for students to use to prepare for the Special Education Comprehensive Exam. The exam will concentrate on three (3) areas of the master core – educational philosophy and laws as it pertains to special education; educational administration as it pertains to special education; and educational research as it pertains to special education; and, a general question pertaining to the 18 hour concentration courses. The following are study guidelines to assist students in preparation for the special education comprehensive exam. Exam questions will be based from the following areas: 1. Sequential history of IDEIA from its beginnings as the Education of All Handicapped Children Act through its amendments and reauthorization in the 1980s and 1990s and its current form as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act. In your answer, you should include descriptions of all of the following legal developments: • Education of All Handicapped Children Act (1975) • Amendments (1986) • Reauthorization as Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (1990) • Amendments (1997) including a clear description of the rules on special education and discipline • Reauthorization as Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (2004) Major provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act and explain how these laws impact preK‐12 schools? What similarities and difference do the two laws have to IDEIA? Response to Instruction or Response to Intervention (RTI) is not a federal law in the same way IDEIA is. Explain what RTI is and give examples of procedures that a school might follow to implement RTI. How does IDEIA support and encourage the implementation of RTI in preK‐12 schools? 2. Educational administration as it pertains to special education • Discuss administrative theory and practices as it relates to the role of the school administration partnering with special education staff • Describe and discuss best practices to develop a comprehensive and collaborative partnership between special education staff, school administration, faculty and staff 3. Educational research as it pertains to special education • Determination and discussion of the importance and justification of a study • Identifying the research problem; writing a statement of the research problem and research questions • Key points of a literature review • Selection and protection for research participants • Discussion of dependent and independent variables • Discussion of significant results • Discussion of practical application of a study OVER 4. Courses taken for the 18 hour concentration • List the courses for your 18 hour concentration • Discuss how these courses expanded your professional knowledge in the area of Special Education • Explain and provide examples of how these courses influenced your professional skills in the area of Special Education June, 2012