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The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was signed into law by Lyndon B. Johnson as part of the “War on Poverty.” ESEA not only called for equal access to education for all students. ESEA grants to districts serving low income students, Federal grants for textbooks and library books, funding for special education centers, and scholarships for low-income college students.It is to ensure that every child has an opportunity to learn and succeed. -
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania sided in favor of students with intellectual and learning disabilities in state-run institutions. PARC v. Penn called for students with disabilities to be placed in publicly funded school settings that met their individual educational needs, based on a proper and thorough evaluation. The court agreed with the parents and ordered the schools to extend the school year for these students. -
The Education for all Handicapped Children’s Act
The Education for all Handicapped Children’s Act became the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. President Clinton reauthorized IDEA with several key amendments that emphasized providing all students with access to the same curriculum. While there are a number of court cases which laid the foundation for special education, some have helped to define the services which are currently being provided for individuals with special needs.