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Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas
Arguably the most important piece of legislation of the Civil Rights Movement. It effectively ended "separate but equal" schools for white and black pupils and ruled this segregation as unconstitutional. This legislation is important because it was used as a precedent to argue that children with disabilities could not be excluded from a public education.. -
Hobson v. Hansen
Nationally normed tests were ruled biased and unconstitutional. The tracking system via normed tests violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This legislation is important because it got the ball rolling for equal education opportunities for poor and minority children. -
Diana v. State Board of Education
Worked in favor of linguistically or culturally different students. Students shall be tested in their primary language, with English following, and that students cannot be placed in special education classes based on IQ tests that were culturally biased. This legislation was important because it paved the way to other cultures being accepted in the education system. -
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
This legislation guaranteed a free public education to all children with learning disabilities (ages 6-21) and that these children must be placed in the least restrictive environment to their educational needs. Also allowed parents to be involved in the educational decisions regarding their children. This legislation is important because it finally integrated children with disabilities into the general education classroom and made education more inclusive. -
Mills v. Board of Education, District of Columbia
Expanded the Pennsylvania decision to include all children with disabilities, not just learning disabilities. Specifically established the constitutional right of children with exceptionalities to a public education regardless of their level of function. This legislation was important because it expanded inclusion even more and gave children with physical disabilities an equal education. -
Lau v. Nichols
A major case in the field of bilingual education. Ruled that there is not equality in providing the same facilities, textbooks, teachers, and curriculum for students who do not understand English. This legislation is important because it mandated that schools offer special language programs if schools were to confer equal educational opportunity. -
Board of Education of the Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley
The first interpretation of Public Law 94-142. This case dealt with what constituted an "appropriate" education. The Supreme Court ruled that an appropriate education does not necessarily mean an education that will allow for the maximum possible achievement, rather a reasonable opportunity to learn. This legislation served as a backslide in the progress of educational prosperity for all children. -
Oberti v. Board of Education of the Borough of Clementon School Environment
A child with special needs must be placed in the general education classroom before consideration of a separate classroom. Ruled that pupils cannot be excluded from the general education classroom solely because the curriculum requires modification. This legislation was important because it required educators to give a justified and documented reason for placing a child in a separate class and gave the child a chance to thrive in his/her's least restrictive environment. -
Daniel R.R. v. State Board of Education
Held that a separate classroom was an appropriate placement for a student with down syndrome. Established a two-pronged test for determining placement of kids with special needs. First examined progress in the general education classroom and then if the maximum integration was pursued. This legislation was important because it was the first documentation of educators using the Least Restrictive Environment method with children with special needs. -
Public Law 101-476 (1990 Amendments to PL 94-142
One of the most important changes to PL 94-142. "children" was replaced with "individuals" and "handicapped" was changed to "disabilities". This signifies a change in attitude to a more appropriate person-first point of view. From this legislation, we realize that a person is not defined by his or her's disability. -
Cedar Rapids Community School District v. Garret F.
Expanded and defined what a related service was. Affirmed that medical services qualified as a related service if necessary for a child to attend school. This legislation gave children with physical disabilities the opportunity of learning in a general education classroom as well. -
Schaffer v. Weast
Addressed the issue of whether the parent or school district must prove that their child's IEP is inappropriate. Ruled that either the parent or school district (the party seeking relief) could provide evidence. This legislation is important because it gave the parent's the ability to speak out on behalf of their child -
Arlington Central School District Board of Education v. Murphy
This case argued whether or not a parent is able to collect professional fees for advocating for their children. The court ruled that the parent is not entitled to reimbursement for the cost of experts because only attorney fees are addressed in IDEA. This case was important because it set the precedent that while the parent is free to advocate for their child, they are not able to collect money from doing so. -
Winkleman v. Parma City School District
By unanimous vote, the court ruled that parents have a right to represent their child in IDEA-related cases. This legislation is one of the most important rulings because it gave parents the ability to be involved with their child's education and it was viewed as expanding the definition of a free appropriate public education. -
Forest Grove School District v. T.A.
A Supreme Court decision involving reimbursement for a student with learning disabilities that has been failed by public schools and has sought a private education. in a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court ruled that IDEA was authorized to mandate a reimbursement to the families directly related to this issue. This legislation is important because it held public school at a higher standard to educate those with special needs.