ORELA Special Education (NT602) study plan

Map the full NT602 domain 1 blueprint into a one-page outline of subareas, weighting each by expected item share and marking the three heaviest subareas for extra time

Define and write plain-language explanations for the foundational legal pillars: IDEA's six principles, Section 504, ADA, and FERPA, plus how each shapes classroom practice

Build a personal glossary of 25 core special education terms (FAPE, LRE, IEP, procedural safeguards, child find, related services) with a one-line definition and a classroom example for each

Complete 30 practice items on foundations and legal/ethical practice, then log every miss with the reason it was missed

Sequence the special education process end to end, from pre-referral intervention through eligibility, IEP development, placement, annual review, and triennial reevaluation

Distinguish the roles and legal responsibilities of general education teachers, special educators, administrators, related service providers, and families at each stage

Analyze 10 short scenarios involving referral, consent, discipline, or confidentiality and justify the legally correct response in writing

Explain manifestation determination, disciplinary protections, and the 10-day rule without notes

Differentiate the thirteen IDEA disability categories by definition, typical assessment evidence, and common service implications

Compare high-incidence and low-incidence disabilities in terms of instructional planning, accommodations, and least restrictive environment decisions

Match 20 student profiles to the most likely eligibility category and defend each match with at least two pieces of evidence

Identify common misconceptions about disability categories, such as confusing eligibility labels with instructional needs

Deconstruct the components of a legally defensible IEP, including present levels, measurable annual goals, progress monitoring, accommodations, and transition planning

Write three measurable annual goals with baseline, condition, behavior, and criterion for realistic student profiles

Evaluate sample IEP excerpts for compliance and measurable-goal quality, marking each flaw with the specific correction needed

Complete a 40-item timed mixed practice set covering weeks 1 through 4 and review every rationale

Apply universal design for learning and multi-tiered systems of support by planning instruction across tiers for a single content standard

Select and justify evidence-based instructional strategies for reading, writing, and mathematics, naming the population each strategy best serves

Design five accommodations and five modifications for a given student and explain the legal distinction between them

Sequence explicit instruction, scaffolded practice, and cumulative review into a 30-minute lesson plan

Interpret assessment data by distinguishing screening, diagnostic, progress-monitoring, and standardized measures and what decisions each supports

Practice reading norm-referenced score types (standard scores, percentile ranks, stanines) and translate two sample score profiles into plain-language family summaries

Explain curriculum-based measurement and how to graph and respond to a progress-monitoring trend line

Identify assessment bias, testing accommodations, and alternate assessment considerations for students with significant disabilities

Design positive behavioral interventions by conducting a functional behavior assessment and linking hypothesized function to a behavior intervention plan

Plan classroom management systems that prevent behavior through structure, routines, expectations, and reinforcement, and respond to escalation safely

Describe collaborative practices for working with families and colleagues, including culturally responsive communication and conflict de-escalation

Complete a 50-item timed full-length practice test and categorize every miss by domain subarea

Re-teach the three weakest subareas identified in the error log using targeted review and 20 new practice items per subarea

Build and drill a one-page rapid-review sheet of high-yield facts, legal timelines, and category distinctions

Complete two timed 50-item practice tests and score at or above your target passing threshold on both

Rehearse test-day logistics: pacing, flagging and returning to hard items, and managing fatigue across the testing window