Praxis SpEd Foundational case studies
Praxis SpEd Foundational · Put your knowledge to work in context.
Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355) is a Praxis licensure test developed by ETS for candidates seeking to practice as special educators at any grade level from kindergarten through grade 12. It is not tied to a single grade band, so candidates heading into elementary, middle, or high school special education roles may all meet it on their state's requirement list. The Praxis SpEd Foundational case studies are 5 cases and about 3,454 words.
1The Sub Shortage and the Service-Minutes Squeeze
You are the resource teacher for grades 3–5 at a Title I elementary school. One of your seven students, Maya, a fifth grader with a specific learning disability in reading, has an IEP requiring 150 minutes per week of direct, specialized reading instruction in the resource room plus 30 minutes per week of consultation with her general education teacher.
718 words, about 4 min2The Seven-Year-Old Who Can’t Sit Still
Andre is a 7-year-old second grader who repeated kindergarten. His teacher refers him for special education evaluation, writing that he “has ADHD” because he cannot sit still, calls out about six times in a 30-minute lesson, and is off task during independent writing.
695 words, about 3 min3The IEE Request After a “Not Eligible” Finding
Lila is a 9-year-old fourth grader referred by her mother for writing and math concerns. The district completed a full evaluation: WISC-V Full Scale IQ 98; WIAT-4 Writing 88, Math 91; phonological awareness and rapid naming within the average range; teacher rating scales in the average range; classroom observations show she completes work slowly but accurately.
697 words, about 3 min4The Para Who Cares Too Much
You co-teach third grade with the general education teacher. Ethan, a 9-year-old with Down syndrome, is included for 80% of the day.
709 words, about 4 min5The Transition Meeting That Started With “College”
Sofia is a 17-year-old junior with autism who receives most of her instruction in general education and is on track for a regular diploma. She reads at about a third-grade level and does math at a fifth-grade level.
635 words, about 3 min