ILLINOIS PEL - SOCIAL WORK CONTENT EXAM STUDY GUIDE
NEWEST 2026/2027 ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS | PDF
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ANSWER👀 A federal
law with goals to improve continuity of group and individual health insurance
coverage, combat waste and fraud in health insurance and health care delivery,
improve access to long-term care services, and simplify the administration of health
insurance.
Illinois Administrative Code (IAC) - Title 23 ANSWER👀 Contains the state's
administrative rules on education and cultural resources. Rules pertaining to
education are proposed by ISBE and approved by a subgroup of the Illinois General
Assembly called the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR)
Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code ANSWER👀 The law
states that any person may request information from a developmental disability or
mental health facility relating to whether a minor has been admitted to the facility.
The law describes the rights of minors receiving inpatient and outpatient treatment in
a mental health facility, including their right to consent to counseling services.
Overseen by IL DHS
Illinois School Code ANSWER👀 This compilation of statues describes Illinois'
policies and directives regarding powers and duties of school boards and districts
with respect to finances, health, and safety programs, school records and reports,
strategic planning, and administration of programs. Contains information on school
funding, roles of school personnel, and information about general education and
special education programming authorized through ISBE.
Illinois School Student Records Act ANSWER👀 Describes the requirements for the
maintenance and destruction of student records. addresses the disclosure of
,records, the rights of parent and students to access records, procedures for
challenging the content of records, and penalties for noncompliance with the law.
Protects the disclosure of privileged or confidential communications, including
information communicated in confidence to a school social worker/intern.
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 2001 ANSWER👀 A federal law
requiring that all children and youth experiencing homelessness have access to a
FAPE. Schools must provide children and youth experiencing homelessness with
access to the education and services they need to ensure them an opportunity to
meet the same challenging standards as other students. Each region in IL has a
homeless liaison - each district must have one, too.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ANSWER👀 Is a section of the a federal
civil rights law which reads in part, that no "otherwise qualified handicapped
individual" shall be excluded from participation in program or activity receiving
federal financial assistance ("college, university or other post-secondary institution,
or a public system of higher education") It is much broader in its definition of
"handicap" than is the IDEA and it is a much more general law in that it doesn't not
provide specific direction on how to address the needs of individuals with
disabilities, referring only to the fact that schools must make "reasonable
accommodations." Because of its broader definition students who do not qualify for
special education services under the IDEA may be considered "handicap" under
Section 504.
DREAMers/Undocumented Students ANSWER👀 State and federal laws guarantee
the right of all students to a free public education through grade 12 or until the age 21
- regardless of status.
- The immigration status of the parent or child has no bearing on the rights of the
student to enroll and receive equitable education
- Caregivers cannot be required to produce any single document for their child's
enrollment
,LGBTQIA+ ANSWER👀 These youth can be victims of physical violence,
homelessness, and/or be at an increased risk for suicide. These students face
discrimination, harassment, and marginalization both within school settings and
throughout communities across the country.
Social work efforts
- developing anti-bullying interventions
- advising gay-straight alliances
- training staff on issues & diversity
- influencing school policies and curricula to be more inclusive
Children from Military
Families ANSWER👀 Signs of distress in this population leading up to and after
deployment:
- unfocused agitation
- disconnection from peers and adults
- serious depression or withdrawal
- auditory or visual hallucinations
- prolonged major changes from normal functioning
Children Experiencing Homelessness ANSWER👀 These children have a right to an
education in either the school district in which the child previously attended or the
school in the attendance area in which the child currently resides.
Can include:
- children sharing housing of other persons due to a loss of housing
- pupils who are not residing in a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence
, social work role
- can be district homeless liaison
- help families obtain housing, food, and transportation
Children of Incarcerated Parents ANSWER👀 Increased risks of:
- antisocial behavior
- mental health problems
- drug use
- school failure
- unemployment
- stereotyping from other students
*provide for social/emotional needs + connect to community resources
Youth in Care ANSWER👀 Children in foster care; grandparents as guardians;
kinship care (relatives/close friends)
- high mobility rates can lead to delays in academic progress
- keep YIC in their school or origin when living placements change
- YIC who change schools should be promptly enrolled with relevant school records
role of SWer:
- obtaining support services to caregivers who are unfamiliar with educational
settings
- provide appropriate opportunities for positive educational outcomes
Students who are Pregnant/Parenting ANSWER👀 Risks
NEWEST 2026/2027 ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS | PDF
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ANSWER👀 A federal
law with goals to improve continuity of group and individual health insurance
coverage, combat waste and fraud in health insurance and health care delivery,
improve access to long-term care services, and simplify the administration of health
insurance.
Illinois Administrative Code (IAC) - Title 23 ANSWER👀 Contains the state's
administrative rules on education and cultural resources. Rules pertaining to
education are proposed by ISBE and approved by a subgroup of the Illinois General
Assembly called the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR)
Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code ANSWER👀 The law
states that any person may request information from a developmental disability or
mental health facility relating to whether a minor has been admitted to the facility.
The law describes the rights of minors receiving inpatient and outpatient treatment in
a mental health facility, including their right to consent to counseling services.
Overseen by IL DHS
Illinois School Code ANSWER👀 This compilation of statues describes Illinois'
policies and directives regarding powers and duties of school boards and districts
with respect to finances, health, and safety programs, school records and reports,
strategic planning, and administration of programs. Contains information on school
funding, roles of school personnel, and information about general education and
special education programming authorized through ISBE.
Illinois School Student Records Act ANSWER👀 Describes the requirements for the
maintenance and destruction of student records. addresses the disclosure of
,records, the rights of parent and students to access records, procedures for
challenging the content of records, and penalties for noncompliance with the law.
Protects the disclosure of privileged or confidential communications, including
information communicated in confidence to a school social worker/intern.
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 2001 ANSWER👀 A federal law
requiring that all children and youth experiencing homelessness have access to a
FAPE. Schools must provide children and youth experiencing homelessness with
access to the education and services they need to ensure them an opportunity to
meet the same challenging standards as other students. Each region in IL has a
homeless liaison - each district must have one, too.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ANSWER👀 Is a section of the a federal
civil rights law which reads in part, that no "otherwise qualified handicapped
individual" shall be excluded from participation in program or activity receiving
federal financial assistance ("college, university or other post-secondary institution,
or a public system of higher education") It is much broader in its definition of
"handicap" than is the IDEA and it is a much more general law in that it doesn't not
provide specific direction on how to address the needs of individuals with
disabilities, referring only to the fact that schools must make "reasonable
accommodations." Because of its broader definition students who do not qualify for
special education services under the IDEA may be considered "handicap" under
Section 504.
DREAMers/Undocumented Students ANSWER👀 State and federal laws guarantee
the right of all students to a free public education through grade 12 or until the age 21
- regardless of status.
- The immigration status of the parent or child has no bearing on the rights of the
student to enroll and receive equitable education
- Caregivers cannot be required to produce any single document for their child's
enrollment
,LGBTQIA+ ANSWER👀 These youth can be victims of physical violence,
homelessness, and/or be at an increased risk for suicide. These students face
discrimination, harassment, and marginalization both within school settings and
throughout communities across the country.
Social work efforts
- developing anti-bullying interventions
- advising gay-straight alliances
- training staff on issues & diversity
- influencing school policies and curricula to be more inclusive
Children from Military
Families ANSWER👀 Signs of distress in this population leading up to and after
deployment:
- unfocused agitation
- disconnection from peers and adults
- serious depression or withdrawal
- auditory or visual hallucinations
- prolonged major changes from normal functioning
Children Experiencing Homelessness ANSWER👀 These children have a right to an
education in either the school district in which the child previously attended or the
school in the attendance area in which the child currently resides.
Can include:
- children sharing housing of other persons due to a loss of housing
- pupils who are not residing in a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence
, social work role
- can be district homeless liaison
- help families obtain housing, food, and transportation
Children of Incarcerated Parents ANSWER👀 Increased risks of:
- antisocial behavior
- mental health problems
- drug use
- school failure
- unemployment
- stereotyping from other students
*provide for social/emotional needs + connect to community resources
Youth in Care ANSWER👀 Children in foster care; grandparents as guardians;
kinship care (relatives/close friends)
- high mobility rates can lead to delays in academic progress
- keep YIC in their school or origin when living placements change
- YIC who change schools should be promptly enrolled with relevant school records
role of SWer:
- obtaining support services to caregivers who are unfamiliar with educational
settings
- provide appropriate opportunities for positive educational outcomes
Students who are Pregnant/Parenting ANSWER👀 Risks
