Fundamentals of Diverse Learners – D096
Unit 2: Understanding Laws, Policies, and Practices That Inform Instruction for English
Learners
ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act): Established in 2015, governs school funding, operations,
accountability
Title III of ESSA: Requires states to use standardized practices to determine instruction and/or
accommodation needs of EL students
Individualized Education Program (IEP): address’ a student’s unique abilities and needs and
describe how to access the general curriculum. The IEP describe how your child learns
Least restrictive environment (LRE): means kid who get special education should be in the same
classrooms as other kids as much as possible
Testing Requirements for EL’s
ESSA provides many testing options for EL
students Exceptions include:
o Exempt a recently arrived EL from one administration of reading/language
arts assessment
o Exclude a recent arrived EL’s results on a math and ELP assessment
for accountability reasons
o Include results on the reading/language arts, math, ELP test the next year
WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment): everyone brings valuable resources
to the education community. Linguistically and culturally diverse learners bring a unique set of
assets that have the potential to enrich the experiences of all learners and educators
Three Federal Laws that create the legal framework for special education:
1. Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): requires public schools to meet needs of eligible K-
12 students with disabilities. Schools do this by providing services. IDEA is the law the
provides special education
, 2. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act: Civil rights law that prohibits disability
discrimination at schools that get funding. Students meet these requirements by removing
barriers to learning. Section 504 is the law that provides 504 plans for eligible K-12
students and college
3. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Civil rights law that prohibits disability
discrimination by schools, employers, and anyone that offers goods and services to
the public. ADA provides freedom from discrimination at work
IDEA Covers:
o Autism
o Deaf blindness
o Deafness
o Emotional disturbance
o Hearing impairment
o Intellectual disability
o Multiple disabilities
o Orthopedic impairment
o Other health impairment (includes ADHD)
o Specific learning disability (includes dyslexia-reading, dyscalculia-math, dysgraphia-
writing, and other learning differences)
o Speech or language impairment
o Traumatic brain injury
o Visual impairment, including blindness
Unit 2 Quiz:
Resource is provided by section: Accommodations of modifications due to a disability
One type of English language instruction program or model for ELs: Pullout instruction
If EL student Fatima is found to have an educational disability, which law(s) would apply?
Both IDEA and Title III
As an EL, which accommodation should Fatima receive, whether she is found to have an
educational disability or not? Modified testing requirements due to her EL status
Which right would be guaranteed to Fatima under federal law if she is found to have a
disability? Free and appropriate public education (FAPE)
, Both IDEA and Title III would require the school to work proactively to communicate with
Fatima's family and involve them in her educational planning: True
If Fatima is found to have an educational disability, federal law will prohibit placing her in
selfcontained, or segregated, classes: False
Why does IDEA require the school to hold a manifestation determination hearing first? It is
unfair to punish a student with a disability for behavior that may be caused by the disability, and
a hearing will determine whether this is the case.
Unit 3: Supporting Diverse Learners in the Classroom
13 Specific categories of disabilities IDEA identify
Autism spectrum disorder
Intellectual disability
Hearing impairment
Deafness
Speech or language impairment
Visual impairment (including blindness)
Emotional disturbance (including anxiety and depression)
Orthopedic impairment
Unit 2: Understanding Laws, Policies, and Practices That Inform Instruction for English
Learners
ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act): Established in 2015, governs school funding, operations,
accountability
Title III of ESSA: Requires states to use standardized practices to determine instruction and/or
accommodation needs of EL students
Individualized Education Program (IEP): address’ a student’s unique abilities and needs and
describe how to access the general curriculum. The IEP describe how your child learns
Least restrictive environment (LRE): means kid who get special education should be in the same
classrooms as other kids as much as possible
Testing Requirements for EL’s
ESSA provides many testing options for EL
students Exceptions include:
o Exempt a recently arrived EL from one administration of reading/language
arts assessment
o Exclude a recent arrived EL’s results on a math and ELP assessment
for accountability reasons
o Include results on the reading/language arts, math, ELP test the next year
WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment): everyone brings valuable resources
to the education community. Linguistically and culturally diverse learners bring a unique set of
assets that have the potential to enrich the experiences of all learners and educators
Three Federal Laws that create the legal framework for special education:
1. Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): requires public schools to meet needs of eligible K-
12 students with disabilities. Schools do this by providing services. IDEA is the law the
provides special education
, 2. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act: Civil rights law that prohibits disability
discrimination at schools that get funding. Students meet these requirements by removing
barriers to learning. Section 504 is the law that provides 504 plans for eligible K-12
students and college
3. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Civil rights law that prohibits disability
discrimination by schools, employers, and anyone that offers goods and services to
the public. ADA provides freedom from discrimination at work
IDEA Covers:
o Autism
o Deaf blindness
o Deafness
o Emotional disturbance
o Hearing impairment
o Intellectual disability
o Multiple disabilities
o Orthopedic impairment
o Other health impairment (includes ADHD)
o Specific learning disability (includes dyslexia-reading, dyscalculia-math, dysgraphia-
writing, and other learning differences)
o Speech or language impairment
o Traumatic brain injury
o Visual impairment, including blindness
Unit 2 Quiz:
Resource is provided by section: Accommodations of modifications due to a disability
One type of English language instruction program or model for ELs: Pullout instruction
If EL student Fatima is found to have an educational disability, which law(s) would apply?
Both IDEA and Title III
As an EL, which accommodation should Fatima receive, whether she is found to have an
educational disability or not? Modified testing requirements due to her EL status
Which right would be guaranteed to Fatima under federal law if she is found to have a
disability? Free and appropriate public education (FAPE)
, Both IDEA and Title III would require the school to work proactively to communicate with
Fatima's family and involve them in her educational planning: True
If Fatima is found to have an educational disability, federal law will prohibit placing her in
selfcontained, or segregated, classes: False
Why does IDEA require the school to hold a manifestation determination hearing first? It is
unfair to punish a student with a disability for behavior that may be caused by the disability, and
a hearing will determine whether this is the case.
Unit 3: Supporting Diverse Learners in the Classroom
13 Specific categories of disabilities IDEA identify
Autism spectrum disorder
Intellectual disability
Hearing impairment
Deafness
Speech or language impairment
Visual impairment (including blindness)
Emotional disturbance (including anxiety and depression)
Orthopedic impairment
