PPR Legal & Ethical Requirements
Which of the following would not be considered protected speech in an educational setting?
A senior history teacher discusses presidential candidates during class to attempt to persuade a newly 18-year-old student to vote for the candidate the teacher supports.
Which of the following is not part of the fair use guideline concerning copyright laws?
A song may be used in its entirety, but cannot be edited or shortened.
In which of the following situations would a Behavioral Intervention Plan (BIP) be appropriate for the student? Select all answers that apply.
A student is always rushing through work and submitting incorrect answers with repeated careless mistakes; A student is consistently late for school with different excuses.
The Code of Ethics of Texas Educators summarizes expectations for teachers personally and professionally. According to the code, can a teacher be held accountable for material posted on personal social media?
A teacher can be held accountable because the code refers to conduct both inside and outside of school.
Leo, a sixth-grade student in Ms. Hane's class, has recently been acting out in class more than usual. He makes inappropriate comments and yells out incorrect answers to confuse students. Ms. Hane wants to initiate a Behavioral Intervention Plan (BIP). What should she do first?
Ask a parent or guardian for permission to screen Leo using a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA).
A student finds a chart on a website while doing research and wants to include the chart in her research paper. What should she do?
Copy and paste the chart in the paper, citing the source.
Paul, a student in Ms. Vail's 8th-grade class, hasn't been completing his recent homework assignments. When asked for a reason, he informs Ms. Vail that he doesn't have Internet access at home, and his parents have been working late. Paul doesn't have Internet access at home, and the assignments have required some extra Internet research. What can Ms. Vail do to best support Paul?
Don't penalize Paul for the missed homework. Instead, work with Paul's parents and school administrators to ensure that Paul has the materials he needs to complete his homework.
Which of the following requires that schools keep student information and records confidential?
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The parents of a student with disabilities have complained that their student is not getting the services they need. Which of the following statements accurately describes the rights of students and parents in a dispute with the school?
If they cannot reach an agreement with the school or school district, they are guaranteed due process to resolve the dispute.
Mr. Kimball is teaching his 7th-grade science class about composting. As Mr. Kimball is describing the process, he realizes that it would be a lot easier to simply take his class to the composting area at a farm a few blocks away from the school. So, he makes an impromptu decision to conduct the lesson at the farm. When the school principal finds out about the excursion, she is visibly upset. Why?
Mr. Kimball didn't get permission from the students' parents and/or guardians.
Teachers are allowed to use some copyrighted material in the classroom using the fair use exceptions. Which of the descriptions below would not be covered under the fair use guideline?
Mr. Swanson makes 100 copies of a novel for students to use in class and at home.
After a long day at school, Miss Jackson gets home and opens up Facebook. She is frustrated because a parent has been complaining about her teaching methods and behavior management. Which of the following is acceptable to post as a status update on her social media page?
Nothing. As a teacher, it is unprofessional to post negative comments about education.
Passed in 2004, the set of federal regulations known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees students which of the following rights?
Public schools must deliver special education services to students who qualify.
The fifth-grade ELA teacher informs the special education teacher that RtI is a means to place students into special education. All of the following are appropriate responses except:
RtI is the first step to the special education referral process.
Martin is a fourth-grade student who has Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and needs to be in a quiet space while taking tests. Which of the following pieces of legislation is best used to ensure Martin is able to get the accommodation for testing that he requires?
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Which of the following federal mandates helps remove barriers to education by ensuring a free appropriate public education (FAPE)?
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Which of the following situations is an example of students using their First Amendment rights in the classroom?
Students debate the use of stem cells in medicine and research.
A new student began at Spring Memorial Middle School a month ago and has qualified for special education services for a specific learning disability in reading and writing. She recently moved from Mexico and her special education testing was done in Spanish. During the initial ARD committee meeting, they address accommodations for the classroom and STAAR test. What other test should be included in the IEP documents for accommodations?
Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS)
In discussing the state assessment, State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR), the parent wants to understand how it would be supported in the IEP. Which response should the ARD committee chair offer the parent?
The IEP objectives closely align with the STAAR assessment for all students.
How should the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) be reflected in a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP)?
The IEP objectives should try to align as closely as possible with the appropriate TEKS.
A parent disagrees with a school's decision regarding a disciplinary violation of a student which has resulted in a 10-day suspension. Which of the following correctly describes a parental right?
The parent has the right to request to examine the student's educational records.
Which of the following is an accurate statement concerning the guidelines for record keeping?
The rules concerning records can vary by state, but accuracy and confidentiality are universal.
True or False: The transition plan for a high school student is reviewed and updated every year during the annual Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee meeting.
True, this is a requirement of the IDEA and the Texas Education Code
Which of the following can be communicated through an open forum where all students, parents, and teachers can view the information?
classroom-specific homework assignments and due dates
Mr. Maiden feels that the emphasis that the state places on its annual testing is causing unnecessary stress on his students. He feels that if less weight was placed on one exam, the students would be less anxious and perform better. What would be the best way for Mr. Maiden to advocate for his students?
conducting research and presenting information to the local school board
Johnny has documented learning disabilities and he receives special education and related services in the regular classroom. His teacher, Ms. Spencer, has been following the accommodations and modifications noted in Johnny's IEP, but she is concerned that the accommodations and modifications of Johnny's IEP are not appropriate for him. The annual meeting of the ARD Committee is not scheduled for another three months; however, in consideration of Ms. Spencer's concerns about what she considers inappropriate accommodations and modifications, she should:
continue to use the accommodations and modifications required by the IEP but also request for the ARD Committee to meet before the scheduled annual meeting. Then, the committee will have the opportunity to reevaluate Johnny's IEP.
A teacher has chosen an interdisciplinary unit on hot air balloons. Students will study volume in relation to diameter, the role of hot air balloons in history, the impact of temperature on air density, and read non-fiction texts. Which of the following is allowed under copyright law?
copying a short story to be distributed and used in class
A student with disabilities is enrolling in a new school. In order to prepare for this new student, the school should understand the legal rights of the student and the responsibility of the school to:
deliver instruction to the student in the least restrictive environment.
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), public and charter schools have an obligation to:
find, test, and provide necessary disability services to children from birth to transition
A middle school teacher has found a published lesson plan with activities and quizzes online and plans to use these materials for an upcoming lesson on weather patterns. When planning to use published materials for instruction, it is important for the teacher to:
follow copyright requirements for the use of published materials.
Mr. Dwight, a high school teacher, nominated his student, Frank, for an award that recognizes outstanding achievement. Frank has Autism Spectrum Disorder and overcame many obstacles to make the Honor Roll for the first time. Frank won the award, and the local newspaper asked Mr. Dwight to submit a write-up about how Frank has overcome the obstacles associated with his disorder to achieve such an honor. What must Mr. Dwight do before submitting the article?
get Frank's parent and/or guardian's permission for the article to be published
Which of the following exceptionalities does Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1974 not protect?
giftedness
Ms. Blake is a special educator who works with a student named Mark. Mark has been doing well on the multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank sections of his science exams, but struggles with the essay section. Ms. Blake observed a science class and can confirm that Mark clearly knows the material based on his comments. To best advocate for Mark, Ms. Blake should ask his science teacher to:
give Mark the essay section orally.
The Texas education system is made up of primarily independent school districts. This means that each district maintains their own rules and governing board, while also:
having accountability to the Texas Education Agency (TEA); adhering to laws and rules established by the Texas Legislature; adhering to laws and rules established by the United States Congress.
When it comes to suspected abuse or neglect of a student the law in Texas dictates that teachers must:
make a report no later than the 48th hour after initially suspecting child abuse or neglect.
A fifth-grade teacher is concerned about the lack of academic achievement for one of her students. The teacher requests that the special education teacher observe and conference with her regarding appropriate instructional strategies. What is the best response that the special education teacher can offer?
observe and recommend the RtI process
Family Education Rights Privacy Act (FERPA) gives parents access to all of the following except:
personal notes from teachers.
A third-grade student with learning disabilities requires constant redirection when working in collaborative groups. The teacher requests the special education teacher begin the initial evaluation process. What is the best response to provide the general education teacher?
refer the teacher to the RtI process
As part of a final portfolio, Ms. Johnson asks her students to submit a personal narrative of a memorable childhood experience. Lisa, one of the more quiet students in the class, submits a detailed story about a time when she disobeyed her father and was abused as a result. The story described a time in the past, and Ms. Johnson isn't sure whether Lisa is currently in danger. What should she do?
report the incident to the Texas Department of Family Protective Services
A student in Mr. Andrews' inclusion class has recently been found eligible for special education services. After the ARD meeting, Mrs. Andrews receives a copy of the student's IEP which includes accommodations for extended time and small group setting during tests. Which of the following is the most appropriate way for Mr. Andrews to implement the IEP?
review the IEP and provide the student with both extended time and small group setting for assessments
A teacher wants students to access a password-protected website at home for an assignment. Before giving out login credentials, the teacher should consult the:
site license guidelines.
Mrs. Leon finds a cell phone that she believes belongs to one of her students, Jeremy. Just last week, Jeremy's phone was taken away in class after he had texted a classmate and disrupted the class. Mrs. Leon suspects that Jeremy's message might have been an inappropriate comment about her. What should Mrs. Leon do?
take the cell phone to the administrator's office to be picked up by Jeremy
An elective teacher has concerns about a student and asks the school counselor to see the child's file. The school counselor checks that this student is in the teacher's class and asks the teacher to sign an access log. Which of the following federal mandates protects the child's file?
the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974
In this modern day of nontraditional households, the IEP committee must fully understand and interpret the meaning of the word "parent." A parent can be considered any of the following except:
the student's long-term babysitter or nanny
During lunch, there are four teachers in the lounge eating. One teacher begins discussing a student's academic issues, which she believes are affected by the student's home life. This discussion is considered:
unethical because it breaches privacy laws.
To avoid plagiarism, a student should give credit whenever he/she does which of the following? Select all answers that apply.
use another person's idea, opinion, or theory; paraphrase a person's spoken or written words
Child Find is a section of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that requires local education agencies to:
use appropriate channels to locate, assess, and provide services to children with disabilities
Which of the following does not accurately reflect the 504 designation?
A 504 plan is the same as an IEP and they can be used interchangeably.
The Texas Education Code (TEC) sets legal standards for all schools in the state of Texas. What schools are required to abide by these laws?
any public school that receives taxpayer funds
The LEA has the responsibility to identify, locate, and evaluate all students who reside in the state of Texas who are in need of special education or related services, including students enrolling in private schools. At what age can children begin receiving services?
Birth
Joseph has ADHD. His teacher, Mr. Quinn, is aware of Joseph's diagnosis and knows that Joseph goes to the nurse to take his medication every day after lunch. One afternoon, Joseph is acting out more than usual and fidgeting in his seat. Mr. Quinn suspects that Joseph has forgotten to take his medication. What should Mr. Quinn do?
Check with the school nurse to see if Joseph has taken his medication.
The following characteristics are elements of which component of IDEA? Instructional services designed to address the educational needs of students with disabilities as comparable to nondisabled students Instructional services to the maximum extent possible as to meet the educational needs with nondisabled students Standardized and established due process procedures Evaluation, placement, and reevaluation established procedures to ensure appropriate placement and classification of student with disabilities
Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
Rachel, one of the students in Mr. Oliver's 9th-grade class has been asking to use the bathroom every day during class. Today when she asks, Mr. Oliver watches her walk down the hallway; he sees her take out her cell phone and begin texting. Lynnbrook Middle School has a strict no cell phone policy; any cell phone that is found on school grounds is confiscated and reported to the school administration. When Rachel returns to class, Mr. Oliver asks her to step outside for a minute and tells her what he witnessed. Rachel claims that there was a family emergency. Mr. Oliver asks for the cell phone and checks her messaging history to find that her most recent texts were to another student at school. What should Mr. Oliver have done differently?
He should not have searched in Rachel's messaging history.
Mr. Appleton is considering providing some material for his students from the internet. Which of the following is Mr. Appleton legally permitted to do under fair use guidelines?
Use pictures and information from various websites in a class presentation.
A student is giving a presentation on various animal species found in the rainforest. She is planning to include images of each animal in her presentation to the class. In order to avoid any copyright issues, what type of images should the student use? Select all answers that apply.
an image that she draws herself; an image from the public domain; an image published under a creative commons license
