Morgan Herrera

8/7/16
Final Exam Essay
Special education is instruction specially designed to meet the unique needs of a student. The
specially designed instruction can be things like adapting content, methodology, or the delivery
of instruction. Special education is a service provided to students when their education is being
adversely affected because of a disability. Special education performed in public school is done
at no cost the parents. Receiving special education services means a child with a disability is able
to achieve things they might not have been able to without the services. Special education is to
be done in the LRE (least restrictive environment) that gives the students greatest access to the
general education curriculum, this can look different and vary between individual children. The
services are meant to provide a fair playing field for all students.
There is a process followed to gain access to special education, the special education eligibility
process. Students first go through RtI or response to intervention. The RtI framework is meant to
differentiate between students who are having trouble learning and students with a disability. RtI
is a systematic approach to provide effective instruction to all students. Within RtI are three tiers.
Tier I is teaching to all students, based on TEKS. In this tier evidence/standards-based
curriculum and evidence-based strategies/interventions are given. In this tier progress
monitoring, environmental changes and differentiated instruction are all done and then concerns
are submitted to the RtI team. Tier II is teaching to all students plus small group interventions. In
this tier, the child still receives general curriculum instruction but also receives an additional
small group instruction. Increased progress monitoring and intervention adjustments are done.
Students still not responding may then be increased to tier III. Tier III is increased intensity and
frequency of interventions with a specially trained instructor. Tier III provides specialized
curriculum, smaller groups, and generally doubles the effort of instruction. Increased progress

Morgan Herrera
8/7/16
monitoring and intervention changes are done. Students still not responding may be evaluated for
a disability, with the permission of the parents. If the student is determined to have a disability,
that adversely affects their education then the IEP (individualized education program) or ARD
(admission review dismissal) team determines the need for special education services. After
being evaluated and a disability was determined the child then receives an IEP. The IEP is a
legally binding document. In the document is based on the students PLAAFP (present level of
academic achievement and functional performance) and outlines all the details of how, when,
where and for how long the students educational needs will be met. The IEP includes the
students objectives and annual goals.