GACE Special Education General Curriculum (P-12) (735) study guide
GACE Special Education General Curriculum (P-12) (735) · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The GACE Special Education General Curriculum (735) is the Georgia content assessment used for certification to teach students with disabilities who access the general curriculum, typically in co-taught, resource, or inclusive P-12 settings. It is intended for candidates completing an approved educator-preparation program or pursuing certification through another state-approved route, and it is one part of what Georgia requires before a special education certificate is issued. The GACE Special Education General Curriculum (P-12) (735) study guide has 6 sections and about 2,004 words.
01Students with Disabilities
IDEA recognizes 13 disability categories, and eligibility always requires two things: a qualifying condition and an adverse effect on educational performance. A medical diagnosis by itself never qualifies a student.
355 words, about 2 min02Assessment and the Individualized Education Program (IEP)
The sequence is referral, parental consent, full and individual evaluation, eligibility meeting, IEP developed within 30 days of eligibility, then annual review with triennial reevaluation. Evaluation must be multidisciplinary, use multiple measures, and be nondiscriminatory (native language, validated instruments).
318 words, about 2 min03Planning and Managing the Learning Environment
Design begins with least restrictive environment: the IEP team must justify any removal from general education and consider supplementary aids and services before selecting a more restrictive placement. Know the co-teaching models (one teach/one support, station, parallel, alternative, team) and remember that the teacher retains supervisory responsibility for paraprofessionals.
326 words, about 2 min04Instruction
Effective special education instruction is explicit, systematic, and data-driven. The explicit instruction cycle - model (I do), guided practice (we do), independent practice (you do) - paired with clear objectives, frequent opportunities to respond, and immediate corrective feedback, underlies most evidence-based programs.
288 words, about 1 min05Assessment
Assessment serves different purposes: screening (who may need help), diagnosis (what the specific needs are), progress monitoring (is the intervention working), and summative evaluation (what has been learned). Norm-referenced tests compare a student with peers and report standard scores (mean 100, SD 15), percentile ranks, and stanines; criterion-referenced tests compare performance with a mastery standard.
341 words, about 2 min06Professional Responsibilities and Foundations
Anchor yourself in the six IDEA principles: zero reject (child find), nondiscriminatory evaluation, free appropriate public education (FAPE), least restrictive environment, procedural safeguards, and parent participation. Know the landmark cases: Brown v.
376 words, about 2 min