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Another kind of Response to Intervention
Urban schools required at risk children to learn trades such as carpentry or metal working in order to keep them out of trouble (Wrightslaw, 2013). It was thought that the child would be able to get a job and stay off the streets if he no longer attended school. Also, the skills prepared them for life as an adult much like a transition program for today's IEPs. -
Exclusion as the law
Massachusetts Supreme Court decides that children with disabilities, children that require special attention for physical or intellectual reasons, are able to be expelled from school as they are a burden to teachers and a hinderance to other children (Yell, 2012). -
The Beginning of Advocacy
The first White House conference on the education and care of children with disabilities was held. The public was beginning to see a problem. -
Exclusion as the law continued
Beattie v. The Board of Education (1919), decides that children with physical disabilities can be expelled because they were a burden to teachers and made the teachers and other students ill (Yell, 2012). -
Council for Exceptional Children
The first professional organization concerned with the education of children with disabilities or exceptionalities. -
First Advocacy Groups
The first advocacy group for the rights of individuals and children with disabilities was formed in Ohio. This group was comprised of parents of children with disabilities and other civil rights seekers (Yell, 2012). -
Civil Rights Movement
Brown vs. Board of Education set a precedent for all children attending school. This monumental decision prohibited schools from segregating students due to inalterable factors such as race or ethnicity. This would also come to include disabilities as Brown vs. Board of Education gave equal rights and opportunity to education to all students. Parents also saw this as an opportunity to stop the segregation of children with disabilities. -
Two cases spurn change for children with disabilties
In 1971 and 1972, PARC vs. Commonwealth of Pennsyvannia and Mills vs. Board of Education gave birth to the idea of a free and appropriate public education. Congress then conducted surveys in several districts finding the education of children with disabilities grossly lacking. These cases also lead to procedural safeguards regarding special education and gave parents more rights to protect their children. -
Section 504
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was a civil rights law. This law indicated that schools and institutions receiving federal funding could not exclude or discriminate against persons with disabilties. This gave children with disabilties the basic fundamental right to a free and appropriate education equal to their non-disabled peers. Parents also had clearer paths in which to hold their schools accountable. -
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act
This law gave detailed rights to services and educational quality to children with disabilities. EAHCA also included a process in which the federal goverment would hold schools accountable for providing these rights and the quality of education. This law required schools to develop IEPs for students requiring special education. EAHCA would later become IDEA. -
First Special Education Court Case
Board of Education Vs. Rowley defined the meaning and parameters for a free and appropriate public education. This was the first of many cases in which parents were able to seek justice and education for their children. The case also set a major social precedent in social perception on the importance of equal rights for those with disabilities. -
The Education of Handicapped Amendments
This law required states to provide early intervention for children with disabilities and their families. IFSPs were developed for qualifying families. -
Discipline and Children with disabilities
Honig vs. Doe decided that no child could be expelled from school due to actions that are symptomatic of his disability. Also as a result of this case a child could not be removed from his daily classroom for more than ten days due to behavior that is symptomatic of his disability. This case allowed for more understanding and validity to be given to behavioral and emotional disabilities. This was the beginning of changing the public view of these types of disabilities. -
EAHCA becomes IDEA
Language changes in the law to more positive terms. This law also requires transition services for children 16 years or older as part of their IEP. Autism was also added to the qualifying disabilties as its own category. -
The Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilties Act provides accessibility to schools in physical structure as well as access to all school programs. The laws of ADA also extend to school employees and teachers. -
IDEA 1997
This reinstallment of IDEA provides higher standards for the effectiveness of special education. Quality of instruction and servies is improved. -
No Child Left Behind
NCLB provides accountablity, higher standards for achievement, and deadlines for progress. Special subgroups are included in the progress tracking including children with disabilities. -
IDEA 2004
This reauthorization requires highly qualified teachers and research based and scientific instruction and evaluation. IDEA 2004 also included language for English language learners requiring special education. Response to intervention also became a preferred method in education. IDEA will no doubtedly continue be improved upon in the years to come, but this latest installment offers the most complete legislation for special education.
