Special Education Acronyms and Glossary of Terms and Definitions

Special Education Acronyms from Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund

Key Definitions in IDEA | A Reference List from Center for Parent Information & Resources

Glossary of Terms / Plan Integral (in English & Spanish) from the Comprehensive Coordinated Early Intervention Services (CCEIS) Plan

Spanish Glossary of Common Terms Related to IDEA from the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) 

Special Education Definitions in Spanish and Cantonese from Support for Families of Children with Disabilities

OSEP English to Korean Glossary of Terms from the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) 

 

Abeyance

An abeyance is a temporary halt to something, with the emphasis on "temporary." 

Accessibility

Accessibility is the “ability to access” the functionality and benefit of some system or entity. This term is used to describe the degree to which a product (such as a device, a service, or an environment) is accessible by as many people as possible.

Accommodations

Accommodations are adaptations made for specific individuals with disabilities (as defined by law) when a product or service isn’t accessible. These techniques and materials don’t change the basic curriculum but do make learning a little easier and help students communicate what they know.

Achievement Tests

Measures of acquired knowledge in academic skills, such as reading, math, writing, and science.

Adaptive Software

Adaptive software is any software or program that builds a model of the preferences, goals, and knowledge of each individual student and uses that model throughout the interaction with the student in order to adapt to that student’s assessed needs.

Advocacy

Recognizing and communicating needs, rights, and interests on behalf of a child; making informed choices. 

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is a mediation for the resolution of complaints between parents and school district personnel in a cooperative forum of problem- solving conducted by skilled neutral facilitators who are not SFUSD employees.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The ADA is a federal civil rights law that provides legal protections for individuals with disabilities from discrimination in employment, state and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, telecommunications, and transportation. Title II of the ADA requires schools to make educational opportunities, extracurricular activities, and facilities open and accessible to all students. These provisions apply to brick-and-mortar and online schooling.

Assessment

Process of identifying strengths and needs to assist in educational planning; includes observation, record review, interviews, and tests to develop appropriate educational programs, and to monitor progress

Assessment Plan

The description of the battery of tests (psychological, achievement, language, etc.) to be used in a particular student's assessment.

Assistive Technology

Assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment, product or system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a child with a disability.

Asynchronous vs. Synchronous instruction 

Asynchronous instruction is teaching that is offered at a different place or time than when or where the actual instruction is being provided (e.g., video modules that students can access without being connected to an instructor or peers in real time). In contrast, synchronous instruction can happen in different locations, but it occurs at the same time that the instruction is being delivered. It’s delivered through methods such as real-time chats and videoconferencing.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors (may act without thinking about what the result will be), or be overly active.

Auditory Discrimination

Ability to identify differences between words and sounds that are similar.

Auditory Processing

Ability to interpret auditory information

Collaboration

Working in partnership on behalf of a child, e.g., parent and teacher, or special education teacher and general education teacher.

Community Advisory Council for Special Education (CAC)

A group of parents of children with disabilities, members of the community, students and special education professionals who advise the school board and school district administration about special education programs.

Compliance Complaint

Complaint filed with the state department of education or local school district by a person who feels that an educational law has been broken.

Designated Instruction and Services (DIS)

Sometimes called related services; specialized instructional, and/or support services identified through an assessment and written on an IEP as necessary for a child to benefit from special education (e.g. speech/language therapy, vision services, etc.)

Discrepancy

Difference between two tests, such as between measures of a child’s intellectual ability and their academic achievement

Distance Learning

Distance learning involves how students engage in learning and make academic progress when they are not physically present in schools. This is accomplished using a variety of digital and print resources, and differentiated modes of interaction with teachers and peers, when possible. How teachers engage students in distance learning is informed by the student’s access to technology and the internet.

Due Process

Procedural safeguards to protect the rights of the parent/guardian and the child under federal and state laws and regulations for special education; includes voluntary mediation or a due process hearing to resolve differences with the school.

Dysarthria

Difficult or unclear articulation of speech usually occurs when the muscles you use for speech are weak or you have difficulty controlling them; affects ability to pronounce sounds correctly.

Dyscalculia

Difficulty in understanding numbers which can impact basic math skills; trouble calculating.

Dysgraphia

Difficulty writing legibly with age-appropriate speed.

Dyslexia

Difficulty in learning to read or interpret words, letters, and other symbols. Can make reading, writing, spelling, listening, speaking, and math challenging.

Dysnomia

Difficulty remembering names or recalling specific words; word-finding problems.

Dyspraxia

Difficulty performing and sequencing fine motor movements, such as buttoning.

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

The nation’s main law governing K–12 education, ESSA calls for states, districts, and schools to provide students access to challenging academic standards and holds schools accountable for the success of students, including students with disabilities and other subgroups. 

Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)

Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), a cornerstone of the IDEA, our nation’s special education law, is that each eligible child with a disability is entitled to a FAPE that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet the child’s unique needs and that prepares the child for further education, employment, and independent living.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

The nation’s main law governing specific rights of K–12 students with disabilities (and a civil rights law), IDEA entitles all public school students to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). Students suspected of having a disability have the right to a free evaluation, and students deemed eligible for special education have the right to special education and related services.

Individualized Education Program (IEP)

An IEP is a plan developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services. 

Informed Consent

Agreement in writing from parents that they have been informed and understand implications of special education evaluation and program decisions; permission is voluntary and may be withdrawn.

Least restrictive environment (LRE)

A term meaning that children with disabilities must be educated (to the maximum extent appropriate) with children without disabilities.

Modification

Modifications are changes in the delivery, content, or instructional level of a subject or test. They result in changed or lowered expectations and create a different standard for kids with disabilities than for those without disabilities.

Multidisciplinary Team

Professionals with different training and expertise; may include, but is not limited to, any combination of the following public school personnel — general education teacher, special education teacher, administrator, school psychologist, speech and language therapist, counselor — and the parent.

Non-public school (NPS)

A private placement under contract with the district and certified by the state, to service pupils with disabilities whose needs can not be served by the special education programs offered within the SFUSD.

Out-of-level Testing

When a student who is in one grade is assessed using a level of a test developed for students in another grade. Below-grade-level testing is generally what is meant when the term “out-of-level testing” is used.

Primary Language

Language that the child first learned, or the language that’s spoken in the home.

Prior Written Notice (PWN)

A Prior Written Notice (PWN) is a document that informs (provides notice to) a parent/guardian/education rights holder of actions that the school intends to take in regard to their child’s Individualized Education Program. It is important that parents understand what the school plans to do (or not do) for their child

Procedural Safeguards

Legal requirements that ensure parents and kids will be treated fairly and equally in the decision-making process about special education.

Progress Reports

Progress Reports must, at a minimum: inform parents of their child's progress toward each annual goal; determine whether progress is sufficient for their child to achieve the goals by the annual IEP due date; must be reported on when report cards are sent out ( a copy must be sent home to parent/guardian)

Pupil Records

Personal information about the child that is kept by the school system and is available for review by legal guardians and others directly involved in their education.Related Services

Related Services

Related services is the term for those services a disabled child needs in order to benefit from special education. Related services include speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and rehabilitation counseling are related services. Transportation to school is a related service.

Resiliency

Ability to pursue personal goals and bounce back from challenges.

Resource Specialist Program (RSP)

Students who can participate in regular education may also receive special education instruction in the RSP. These students can receive services within the classroom, or can be "pulled out" of the regular education classroom for special assistance during specific periods of the day or week and are taught by credentialed teachers with resource specialist authorization.

Retention

The practice of having a student repeat a certain grade-level (year) in school; also called grade retention.

SB 117

SB-117 is emergency legislation signed by Governor Newsom on March 17, 2020. SB-117 waived certain special education timelines in California, such as sending an assessment plan or responding to records requests.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination in the education of children and youth with disabilities; vocational education; college and other post-secondary programs; employment; health, welfare and other social programs; and other programs and activities that receive federal funds

Self-Advocacy

Child’s ability to explain specific learning needs and seek necessary assistance or accommodations.

SOAR Academy

SOAR is a special education setting that is designed to support students whose disabilities significantly impact their emotional regulation, social skills, and behaviors. SOAR stands for Success, Opportunity, Achievement and Resilience.

Special Day Class (SDC)

Students in Special Day Classes (SDC) are enrolled in self-contained special education classes. They are assigned to these classes by their IEP eligibility and receive support from the Special Day Class teacher and the support staff

Special Education (SPED)

Specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of eligible kids whose educational needs can’t be met through modification of the regular instructional program; provides for a range of options for services, such as pull out programs, special day classes; available to kids enrolled in public schools.

Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA)

The county office from which some special education services are funded; SFUSD is both a local school district and the county office for San Francisco.

Specialized Academic Instruction (SAI)

Specialized academic instruction (SAI) is determined by the IEP team and is derived from assessment information, data collected, and goals/objectives developed in the student's area(s) of need. Each student's educational needs are unique; thus, SAI and services may vary greatly between students.

Student Success Team (SST)

A regular education process designed to make preliminary modifications within the regular education program of a student not succeeding in class. Each SST is to meet on a weekly basis.

Transition

Process of preparing kids to function in future environments and emphasizing movement from one educational program to another, such as from elementary school to middle school, or from school to work.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

UDL is a way to optimize teaching to effectively instruct a diverse group of learners. The approach is based on insights from the science of how people learn. It emphasizes accessibility in how students access material, engage with it, and show what they have learned. UDL can be applied to in-person or virtual educational settings.

Visual Processing

Ability to interpret visual information

 

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