-
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
THe ESEA marked an important point in the history of Special Education because it essentially assigned the federal government the responsibility of ensuring students of disadvanted backgrounds equal access to public education. For students with disabilities, it prompted states to create and improve special education programs. Although the ESEA was certainly lacking in terms of ensuring the needs of all students are met, it was an important first step to federal invovlement in special education -
Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia
Filed in response to the exclusion of students with disabilities from public schools, this case required the state to provide appropriate educational services, as well as review of student progress and the effectiveness of the services provided. It was also a significant influence in the EACHA, the first law that actually required states to provided free and appropriate education. -
Vocational Rehabilitation Act (VRA) (Public Law 93-112, Section 504)
Whereas the ESEA encouraged states to expand and improve special education programs, this portion of the VRA prohibited discriminiation against students with disabilities. It also ensured the basic educational right of free and appropriate public education for students with disabilties. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) (Public Law 94-142, Part B)
This legislation was significant for three reasons. It required states to provided free and appropriate public education (FAPE), required individualized education programs (IEPs), and first defined and brought attention to the concept of least restrictive environment. -
Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments (Public Law 99-457)
This legislation beneifted children with disabilities from birth to age five. Free and appropriate education was expanded to include this age group, and early intervention progams were established for infants and toddlers. Overall, this law is significant because early intervention is often very important for helping students become accustomed to a school setting. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (Public Law 101-476)
IDEA provided numerous significant improvements to EACHA of 1975. It established 'people-first' language; added social work, assistive technology, and rehabilitation services to special education; and added new categoies of disability. Additionally, it required bilingual education services for students with disabilities, as well as transitional services for post-graduation. -
Reauthorization of IDEA
The reauthorization of IDEA in 1997 provided significant improvements towards integrating special education and general education by requiring general education teachers to be part of IEP teams. Also, states were given more responsibility for providing students with disabilities access to the general education curriculum, and it required behavior management plans to be included in IEPs. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) (Public Law 108-446)
IDEIA is perhaps the most comprehensive piece of legislation. It implemened the 'zero-reject' concept, required schools to track all students with disabilties and plan their educational needs, ensured students with disablities recieve appropriate services from ages 3-21, enhanced transparency between all parties invovled, and required evidence-based practice, among others. If districts failed to meet the guidelines, IDEIA requires states to mandate consequences.
