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Plessy V. Ferguson
The Plessy V. Ferguson Supreme Court case enacted the "separate but equal" segregation laws. Although this did not have to do with special education at the time, this case affected segregation in schools as well, including for those with disabilities. -
Brown V. Board of Education
In this seminal Supreme Court ruling, racial segregation in public schools was ruled to be unconstitutional. It was a watershed in the history of civil rights and paved the way for later laws that sought to integrate classrooms and advance equality for all children, including those with disabilities. The decision made it easier to contest the segregated and unfair education system treatment of kids with disabilities. -
EHA
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act was a ground-breaking federal statute that was enacted as Public statute 94-142 and required all public schools to admit and educate students with disabilities. In addition to requiring schools to offer kids with disabilities the least restrictive environment (LRE) and individualized education programs (IEPs), it also mandated that they provide a free and adequate public education (FAPE). -
EHA Ammendments
The Education of the Handicapped Act was amended in 1986 to incorporate early intervention provisions as well as programs for preschool-aged children. This expansion made sure that younger students with impairments received assistance early in their educational career, which was a key step towards inclusive education. -
IDEA
Important modifications, such as the need for transition planning for kids transferring from school to adult life, were added in the reauthorization of the EHA as Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. IDEA clarified the meaning of LRE and underlined the value of integrating students with disabilities into general education classes in order to foster greater inclusion. https://youtu.be/rgwstMsPvd4?si=tmloi5opto_oLdAd Above is a video of how IDEA is being used almost 50 years later. -
IDEA Amendments
The 1997 IDEA amendments mandated that, whenever feasible, students with disabilities be included in general education courses and standardized testing, reinforcing the concept of LRE. With regard to the education of students with disabilities, this act signaled a dramatic turn toward greater accountability and inclusion. -
NCLB
By focusing on accountability and standards-based education for all students, including those with disabilities, the No Child Left Behind Act expanded upon the ideas of IDEA. In order to further encourage inclusion in general education settings, the law mandated that schools make sure all students—regardless of disability—meet academic benchmarks and take part in statewide examinations. -
IDEA Reauthorization
Reauthorization of IDEA in 2004 brought to improvements in accountability and less paperwork. In order to promote earlier and more inclusive support, it stressed the significance of utilizing research-based practices and offering treatments in general education settings prior to referral students for special education services. -
ESSA
The goal of ensuring that all kids, including those with disabilities, receive a top-notch education was maintained by the Every Student Succeeds Act, which took the role of NCLB. It promoted the inclusion of students with disabilities in general education settings and assessments and gave schools greater flexibility while upholding accountability criteria. https://www.ed.gov/essa?src%3Drn Above is a link to the Act itself, as provided by the United States Board of Education. -
American Rescue Plan Act
Funding was made available by the American Rescue Plan Act to address the COVID-19 pandemic's effects on schooling. This demonstrated the continued commitment to inclusive education amid crises and included assistance for students with disabilities through increased financing for remote learning, health and safety precautions, and educational recovery programs.