Historical Time-Line of Special Education

By Brett Aldrich

  • Massachusetts Education Law

    This required parents see that their children knew the principals of religion and capital laws of the Commonwealth creation of schools.

  • Common Schools

    Common schools were created to serve all individuals of all classes and religions. They were funded and created a more unified culture

  • Thomas Jefferson; Bill for the more general knowledge

    Made the College of William and Mary more democratic, proposed a public library system, and created a statewide school system.

  • Horace Mann and Education Reform

    Requested a six month minimum school year, common school is an equalizer for children, education can be an asset in the decline of criminal behavior.

  • Monitorial Schools, Charity Schools, Infant Schools

    Monitorial schools are one teacher teaching hundreds practicing reading and writing. Charity schools are for those who are poor or in urban areas. The infant schools are for those who are 4 and 5 years old.

  • Irving Independent School District v. Tatro

    A child with spina bifida was unable to attend normal schools. This student needed catheterization every couple of hours to prevent kidney damage. Schools failed to provide this procedure and was in violation.

  • Progressive Reform Movements

    Reformed schools to acquire a new responsibility in preparing children for active civic participation in a democratic society.

  • Early Foundations of Special Education

    During this time there were no protections for populations with disabilities in schools.

  • Department of Public Welfare v. Haas

    The Supreme Court of Illinois ruled public schools did not have to accept any student with disabilities due to their lack of ability to learn in a typical classroom setting.

  • Early Influence on Inclusion

    Segregation in school was declared unconstitutional and was eliminated.

  • Brown v. Board of Education

    Landmark Civil Rights decision; "Education is a right that must be made available to all on equal terms."

  • Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1964 (ESEA)

    This legislation provided resources to help ensure that disadvantaged students had access to quality education.

  • Elementary Secondary Education Act

    Requires federal funding for primary and secondary education for students.

  • Education of the Handicapped Act (P.L. 91-230)

    Congress stimulated the states development of education programs and resources for the disabled because past legislation was not effective in improving education for children with disabilities.

  • Elemetery and Secondary Education Act

    Passed protected and provided students who were in need by providing free and reduced lunch and easy access to school recourse. Reformed education of the handicapped.

  • Congress Investigation after Mills v. Board of Education and Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    Congress investigated that millions were not receiving proper or appropriate education. Congress concluded that providing educational services will ensure against persons needlessly being forced into institutional settings. This will prevent billions from being spent on maintaining them as dependents. This will increase their independence by receiving proper education.

  • The Rehabilitation Act of 1973

    The first disability civil rights law passed forbade the discrimination of people with disabilities in most federally ran organizations, namely schools.

  • Public Law 94-142: The Education for all Handicapped Children Act of 1975

    Stated all children had the right to an education. Ensured children with disabilities had access to an education and due process of law called "procedural safeguards" to protect rights of children and parents.

  • Public Law 99-457 amendment to the All Handicapped Children Act

    All services provided to children was changed to birth not three years of age.

  • Nation at Risk Report

    Ronald Reagan's National Commission in Education reported that surveys of various studies pointed out that schools had great underachievement in academics on a national and international scales.

  • Handicapped Children's Protection Act

    President Reagan signed this act which put Individual Education Plans into effect.

  • Mainstreaming

    Students were able to be mainstreamed into typical classrooms

  • No Child Left Behind

    Signed by President George W. Bush, if schools did not provide proper education and such schools did not make the appropriate improvements for learning schools can be fined.

  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004

    Increased the focus on accountability and improved outcomes by emphasizing reading early intervention and research-based instruction by requiring that special-education teachers be highly qualified. To meet a child's need and prepare them for future education and protect children and parents with disabilities.

  • Every Student Succeeds Act

    Combined the No Child Left Behind Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act. Special Education teachers who teach core academic subjects must meet the NCLB requirement which bring IDEA into conformity with the No Child Left Behind Act