Vanguard School - Parent Resources

Special Education Glossary

The following is a selected list of abbreviations and acronyms that are commonly used in the field of Special Education and related fields. Definitions were compiled from a variety of educational and clinical sources. While not a complete list, The Vanguard School hopes this resource will provide value to our community.

 

  • Ability Grouping
    • The grouping of children based on their achievement in an area of study.
  • Accelerated Learning
    • An educational process that allows students to progress through the curriculum at an increased pace.
  • ACCESS
    • A state/federal program to share medically related disability costs using Medicaid (MA) funds in schools for certain services for eligible children.
  • Achievement
    • The level of a child's accomplishment on a test of knowledge or skill.
  • ADA
    • Americans with Disabilities Act: 1990's Federal legislation expanding civil rights of persons with disabilities in public and private sectors; affects employment, transportation, architectural barriers, and public accommodations.
  • Adaptive Behavior
    • An individual's social competence and ability to cope with the demands of the environment.
  • Adaptive Physical Education
    • A modified program of instruction implemented to meet the needs of special students.
  • ADD
    • Attention-Deficit Disorder: A disorder characterized by the inability to concentrate and, in some cases, impulsiveness and hyperactivity. Between three and ten percent of the nation's school-age children are thought to have ADD.
  • Advocate
    • An individual, either a parent or professional, who attempts to establish or improve services for exceptional children.
  • AD / HD
    • Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder: A syndrome usually diagnosed in childhood that is often associated with learning disabilities and results in failure to achieve the expected level of academic performance. A psychiatric classification used to describe individuals who exhibit poor attention, distractibility, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.
  • Age Norms
    • Standards based on the average performance of individuals in different age groups.
  • Agnosia
    • Child's inability to recognize objects and their meaning, usually resulting from damage to the brain.
  • Amplification Device
    • Any device that increases the volume of sound.
  • Anecdotal Record
    • A procedure for recording and analyzing observations of a child's behavior; an objective, narrative description.
  • Annual Goals
    • Yearly activities or achievements to be completed or attained by the disabled child, documented on the Individual Educational Plan.
  • Aphasia
    • The inability to acquire meaningful spoken language as a result of brain damage.
  • Apraxia
    • Problems with voluntary, or purposeful, muscular movement, with no evidence of motor impairment.
  • APS
    • Approved Private School: Designation by the PA Department of Education for 30 licensed private special education schools whose programs have been approved to serve eligible children with a combination of state/district funds.
  • Articulation
    • The production of distinct language sounds by the vocal chords.
  • ASD
    • Autism Spectrum Disorders: Three distinct developmental disorders recognized as exceptionalities under Title 22, Chapter 14 of the PA school code. ASDs include Pervasive Developmental disorder, Autism and Aspergers Disorder.
  • Assessment
    • The process of gathering information about children in order to make educational decisions.
  • AT
    • As defined by IDEA, Assistive Technology includes "any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of a child with a disability." The Central Instructional Support Center (PA Dept. of Ed.) explains Assistive Technology as one tool to provide access to the curriculum. Educational institutions must adhere to the federal "least restrictive" mandate, considering no tech options, light tech, and high tech programs and devices in sequence.
  • At Risk
    • Usually refers to infants or children with a high potential for experiencing future medical or learning problems.
  • Autism
    • A complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. The result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, autism impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Children and adults with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities.
  • AYP
    • Adequate Yearly Progress: An annual measurement of improvement in student achievement based on state academic standards. School districts and schools must meet this minimum standard as part of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act.
  • Baseline Data
    • An objective measure used to compare and evaluate the results obtained during some implementation of an instructional procedure.
  • Baseline Measure
    • The level of frequency of behavior prior to the implementation of an instructional procedure that will later be evaluated.
  • Behavior Modification
    • The techniques used to change behavior by applying principles of reinforcement learning.
  • Bilingual
    • Having the ability to speak two languages.
  • BPAS
    • Board of Private Academic Schools: A division of the State Department of Education that licenses and regulates certain non-public schools.
  • BSE
    • Bureau of Special Education: A division of the State Department of Education responsible for overseeing and regulating all public and private special education in the Commonwealth
  • Career Education
    • Instruction that focuses on the application of skills and content area information necessary to cope with the problems of daily life, independent living, and vocational areas of interest.
  • Categorical Resource Room
    • An auxiliary pull-out program that offers supportive services to exceptional children with the same disability.
  • CBA
    • Curriculum Based Assessment: A methodology of increasing importance in special education in which a child's progress in the curriculum is measured at frequent intervals.
  • CEC
    • Council for Exceptional Children: Professional organization for persons serving exceptional school age children.
  • Cognition
    • The understanding of information.
  • Compulsion
    • A persistent, repetitive act that the individual cannot consciously control.
  • Consultant Teacher
    • A supportive service for disabled children in which the services are provided by a specialist in the classroom.
  • Criterion Referenced Tests
    • Tests in which the child is evaluated on his/her own performance according to a set of criteria and not in comparison with others.
  • Declassification
    • The process in which a disabled child is no longer considered in need of special education services. This requires a meeting of the CSE and can be requested by the parent, school, or child (if over the age of 18).
  • Deficit
    • A level of performance that is less than expected for a child.
  • Desensitization
    • A technique used in reinforcement theory in which there is a weakening of a response, usually an emotional response.
  • Diagnosis
    • Identification of specific disorder(s) as a result of some evaluation.
  • Distractibility
    • Difficulty in maintaining attention.
  • Due Process
    • The legal steps and processes outlined in educational law that protect the rights of disabled children.
  • Dyscalculia
    • A serious learning disability in which the child is unable to calculate, apply, solve or identify mathematical functions.
  • Dysfluency
    • Difficulty in production of fluent speech, as in stuttering.
  • Dysgraphia
    • A serious learning disability in which the child is unable to write.
  • Dyslexia
    • A severe learning disability in which a child's ability to read in greatly impaired.
  • Dysorthographia
    • A serious learning disability that affects a child's ability to spell.
  • Echolalia
    • The repetition of what other people say, as if echoing them.
  • EFTS
    • Equivalent Full Time Students: The conversion of total student bodies enrolled to an enrollment based on actual attendance days. Used to arrive at the cost per student.
  • EHA
    • Education of All Handicapped Children Act: Public Law 94-142, federal legislation passed in 1975, which makes available a free and appropriate public education (see FAPE) for all handicapped children in the United States.
  • EI
    • Early Intervention: Special Education and related services provided to children under the age of 5.
  • Enrichment
    • Providing a child with extra and more sophisticated learning experiences than those normally presented in the curriculum.
  • EPSDT
    • Early (and) Periodic Screening (and) Diagnostic Testing (Program): A variety of assessment procedures available to medically and financially eligible children from birth to 21 years through the federal/state Medicaid (MA) program; emphasis on early intervention and prevention of further problems, along with referral for treatment.
  • ER
    • Evaluation Report: A summary report on the special education eligibility and needs of a student generally prepared before first entry into special education and every three years thereafter; (every two years if classified as mentally retarded) the result of a multi-disciplinary team evaluation.
  • ESL
    • English as a Second Language: Refers to non-native English speaking students or programs pertaining to the teaching of non-native English speaking students.
  • ESY
    • Extended School Year: Eligibility for ESY is determined at each IEP meeting, along with determination of the services to be provided. Many factors are considered for eligibility (regression, recoupment, severity of disability, etc.).
  • Etiology
    • The cause or causes of a problem.
  • Exceptional Children
    • Children whose school performance shows significant discrepancy between ability and achievement, and who, as a result, require special instruction, assistance, or equipment. Also includes gifted children.
  • FAPE
    • Free and Appropriate Public Education: This refers to the special education and related services that are provided at public expense to children with disabilities, conform to the state requirements, and conform to the individual's IEP.
  • FBA
    • Functional Behavior Analysis: A standardized interview/observation/ intervention procedure that includes the systematic collection of data used to support hypotheses regarding behaviors and prescribe specific interventions.
  • FERPA
    • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act: A federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. These rights include: the right to inspect and review the student's education record maintained by the school; the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading; and the expectation that written permission be given in order to release any information from a student's record (some exceptions are allowed under this law). The rights of the parent or guardian transfer to the student when the student reaches the age of 18.
  • FICA
    • Federal Insurance Contributions Act: An employment tax on wages paid by both the employer and employee in matching amounts. The tax goes to fund the Social Security and Medicare systems.
  • FYE
    • Fiscal Year End: The reporting year for financial purposes.
  • GAAP
    • Generally Accepted Accounting Principles: A broad body of rules and guidelines adopted by the accounting profession as guides in measuring, recording and reporting financial activities.
  • Group Home
    • Residential living arrangements for handicapped adults - especially the mentally retarded, along with several non-handicapped supervisors.
  • Habilitation
    • An educational approach used with exceptional children that is directed toward the development of the necessary skills required for successful adulthood.
  • Homebound Instruction
    • A special education service in which teaching is provided by a specially trained instructor to students unable to attend school. A parent or guardian must always be present at the time of instruction. In some cases, the instruction may take place on a neutral sight - not in the home or school.
  • Hyperactivity
    • Excessive physical and muscular activity characterized by extreme inattention, and excessive restlessness and mobility. The condition is usually associated with attention deficit disorder or learning disabilities.
  • IDEA
    • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: The main federal law requiring states and school districts to provide a "free and appropriate" special education to all eligible children. Provides regulations, rights guarantees and some funding to states; formerly known as the Education for All Handicapped Children's Act (1975).
  • IEP
    • Individualized Education Program: A written educational program that outlines a disabled child's current levels of performance, related services, educational goals, and modifications. This plan is developed by a team including the child's parent(s), teacher(s) and supportive staff.
  • IFSP
    • Individualized Family Service Plan: A written, multi-disciplinary document similar to an IEP but prepared every six months for infants and toddlers with disabilities.
  • Impulsivity
    • Non-goal oriented activity exhibited by individuals who lack careful thought and reflection prior to a behavior.
  • Inclusion
    • Education of disabled children in their home school, with non-handicapped children in the same classroom.
  • Interdisciplinary Team
    • Individuals from a variety of disciplines engaged in a collective effort to assess the needs of a child.
  • Intervention
    • Preventive, remedial, compensatory, or survival services made on behalf of a disabled individual.
  • IQ
    • Intelligence Quotient: A way of expressing the results, through a score, of an intelligence test.
  • IST
    • Instructional Support Team: Members of the IEP team who provide direct instruction services to the student.
  • Itinerant Teacher
    • A teacher hired by a school district to help in the education of a disabled child. The teacher is employed by an outside agency and may be responsible for several children in several districts.
  • IU
    • Intermediate Unit: One of 29 geographically determined subdivisions of PA's public school system; all school districts "belong to" one; provide a wide variety of services to districts, including special education for low-incidence students and often preschoolers; funding comes partly from the state, mostly from districts, some from contracts and grants.
  • LD
    • Learning Disability: Formal, legal term for a significant discrepancy between measured ability and current academic functioning not due to mental retardation, brain injury, sensory problems or lack of opportunity, also known as Specific Learning Disability.
  • LEA
    • Local Education Agency: Generally refers to the school district of legal residence for a child/family.
  • LRE
    • Least Restrictive Environment: A requirement of IDEA. The educational setting of exceptional children and the education of handicapped children with non-handicapped children whenever realistic and possible. It is the least restrictive setting in which the disabled child can function without difficulty.
  • MA
    • Medical Assistance: Also known as Medicaid; a federal/state program providing financial assistance for certain medical services for financially eligible children and families
  • Mainstreaming
  • The practice of educating exceptional children in the regular classroom.
  • MDE
    • Multi-Disciplinary Evaluation: A comprehensive set of assessments, reports and recommendations from different disciplines required by federal and state law to determine eligibility for and content of special education programs; requires parent input; is completed before each IEP or consideration of.
  • Mental Age
    • The level of intellectual functioning based on the average for children of the same chronological age. When dealing with severely disabled children, the mental age may be more reflective of levels of ability than the chronological age.
  • Mental Disability
    • The disability in which the individual's intellectual level is measured within the sub-average range and there are marked impairments in social competence.
  • MH / MR
    • Mental Health / Mental Retardation: Name given to certain county operated services for persons of any age who fit state definitions of mental illness or mental retardation. Includes, among others, diagnostic services, respite care, residential services, case management, etc. Funded primarily with state money through the State Department of Welfare (DPW).
  • Native Language
    • The primary language used by an individual.
  • NCLB
    • No Child Left Behind: The NCLB was signed into law in January 2002. It amended Titles I and III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). NCLB redefines the federal role in K-12 education and is intended to close the achievement gap between disadvantaged and minority students and their peers.
  • Non-Categorical Resource Room
    • A resource room in a school that provides services to children with all types of classified disabilities. The children with these disabilities are able to be maintained in a regular classroom.
  • NOREP
    • Notification Of Recommended Educational Placement: The NOREP contains specific information as to the appropriate grouping, level of intervention, and location of special education services provided. This is issued to the parents for their approval/disapproval prior to a district initiating or changing the educational placement of the child.
  • Norm Referenced Tests
    • Tests used to compare a child's performance with the performance of others using the same measure.
  • Obsession
    • A repetitive and persistent idea that intrudes into a person's thoughts.
  • OCD
    • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: An anxiety disorder in which a person feels trapped in repetitive, persistent thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive, ritualized behaviors (compulsions). Attempts to resist a compulsion produce mounting tension and anxiety, which are relieved immediately by giving into it. People with obsessive-compulsive disorder derive no pleasure from it other than the release of tension.
  • Occupational Therapist
    • A professional who programs and delivers instructional activities and materials to assist disabled children and adults to participate in useful daily activities.
  • ODD
    • Oppositional Defiant Disorder: The covert display of underlying aggression by patterns of obstinate, but generally passive behavior. Children with this disorder often provoke adults or other children by the use of negativism, stubbornness, dawdling, procrastination, and other behaviors. (also Oppositional Disorder).
  • OT
    • Occupational Therapy: Technical/legal term for certain evaluative, consultative and direct services provided by a state licensed Occupational Therapist. Includes, among others, fine motor skills, sensory integration, activities of daily living, etc.
  • OVR
    • Office of Vocational Rehabilitation: A division of the PA Department of Labor and Industry responsible for evaluation, training and job placement for persons with a wide range of work related disabilities; funded with federal and state money.
  • PACE
    • Program of Adventure-Based Counseling Experiences: An adventure-based counseling program utilizing a group model and a series of structured activities to promote behavior change and improvement of self-esteem.
  • Paraprofessionals
    • Trained assistants or parents who work with a classroom teacher in the education process.
  • PDD
    • Pervasive Developmental Disorder: A neurobiological disorder that affects a child's social, mental, linguistic, and physical development. Examples include autism, Rhett's disorder, conduct disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder. Children with PDD often experience behavioral, emotional, and motor problems, and need speech, language, occupational, physical, and other therapies.
  • PDE
    • Pennsylvania Department of Education: The state administrative agency responsible for overseeing all public and private preschool, school-age and higher education in the Commonwealth.
  • PHC
    • Pupils with Handicapping Conditions: Children classified as disabled by the Committee on Special Education.
  • Physical Therapist
    • A professional trained to assist and help disabled individuals to maintain and develop muscular and orthopedic capability and to make correct and useful movements.
  • PINS Petition
    • Person in Need of Supervision: Is a family court referral that can be made by either the school or the parent and is usually made when a child under the age of 16 is out of control in terms of attendance, behavior, or some socially inappropriate or destructive pattern.
  • Positive Reinforcement
    • Any stimulus or event, occurring after a behavior has been exhibited, that increases the possibility of repetition of that behavior in the future.
  • PSEN
    • Pupils with Special Educational Needs: Students defined as having math and reading achievement lower than the 23 percentile and requiring remediation. These students are not considered disabled, but are entitled to assistance to elevate their academic levels.
  • PSSA
    • Pennsylvania System of School Assessment: Standards based criterion-referenced assessment used to measure Pennsylvania students' attainment of the academic standards, and determining the degree to which school programs enable students to attain proficiency of the standards. Pennsylvania students in 5th, 8th and 11th grade are assessed in reading and math, and students in grades 6, 9 and 11 are assessed in writing.
  • PT
    • Physical Therapy: Evaluative, consultative and therapeutic services provided to help restore functioning to individuals with a wide range of acute and chronic neurological, physical and health problems by a state licensed practitioner with physician's approval.
  • Pupil Personnel Team
    • A group of professionals from the same school who meet on a regular basis to discuss children's problems and offer suggestions or a direction for resolution.
  • Related Services
    • Services provided to disabled children to assist in their ability to learn and function in the least restrictive environment. Such services may include in-school counseling, speech and language services, and math remediation.
  • Remediation
    • An educational program designed to teach children to overcome some deficit or disability through education and training.
  • Resource Room
    • An auxiliary service provided to disabled children for part of the school day. It is intended to service children's special needs so that they can be maintained within the least restrictive educational setting.
  • Screening
    • The process of examining groups of children in hopes of identifying potential high-risk children.
  • SEA
    • State Education Agency: The state agency responsible for the implementation of school programs (e.g., Pennsylvania Department of Education).
  • Section 504
    • Contained in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in which guarantees are provided for the civil rights of disabled children and adults. It also applies to the provision of services for children whose disability is not severe enough to warrant classification, but who could benefit from supportive services and classroom modifications.
  • SED
    • Severely Emotionally Disturbed: (formerly Socially/Emotionally Disturbed). Official state term for students with major psychological disorders meeting current federal/state definition.
  • Self-Contained Class
    • A special classroom for exceptional children usually located within a regular school building.
  • SETT
    • Student Environment Tasks and Tools: A framework considering the particular student (age, functional levels, strengths, etc.), his/her environment (the student's location when asked to perform academic tasks and the physical layout), tasks (what needs to be done), and tools (strategies and accommodations being used now and those to explore to further access to IEP goals). A SETT meeting is held to determine if no-tech, low-tech, and/or on-site technology will meet the student's needs. Recommendations may be made for equipment loans and/or trials. This follows data collection as a part of the Assistive Technology evaluation and acquisition process.
  • Sheltered Workshop
    • A transitional or long-term work environment for disabled individuals who cannot, or who are preparing for, work in a regular setting. Within this setting the individual can learn to perform meaningful, productive tasks and receive payment.
  • SSI
    • Supplemental Security Income: Cash payment, along with health and other benefits for individuals meeting both disability and income/assets guidelines. Operated by the Social Security administration though separate from regular Social Security; primarily federal funds with some state contribution. Also funds the SSI-Disabled Children's Program for eligible children on a youngest-first basis providing coordination of health and related services.
  • Surrogate Parent
    • A person other than the child's natural parent who has legal responsibility for the child's care and welfare.
  • SYEP
    • Summer Youth Employment Program: A summer work training program for eligible adolescents 14 years of age and older funded with federal and state money through the county offices of Employment and Training. Serves primarily "disadvantaged and disabled" youth.
  • TBI
    • Traumatic Brain Injured: Official category of disability in PA for children with clearly diagnosed brain injury.
  • TDA
    • Tax Deferred Annuity: An employee benefit offered to staff which enables individuals to supplement their retirement savings through additional pre-tax retirement contributions.
  • Token Economy
    • A system of reinforcing various behaviors through the delivery of tokens. These tokens can be in the form of stars, points, candy, or chips.
  • Underachiever
    • A term generally used in reference to a child's lack of academic achievement in school. It is important that the school identify the underlying causes of such underachievement, since it may be a symptom of a more serious problem.
  • Vocational Rehabilitation
    • A program designed to help disabled adults obtain and hold a job.


 

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