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Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954)
Students from four states claimed that segregated public schools were inherently unfair and denied them the right to equal protection under the law. The Supreme Court ruled that segregation in schools, including that of pupils with disabilities, was unconstitutional in 1954. This decision, in my opinion, is significant because it offered parents a strong platform from which to begin fighting for the rights of their disabled children. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA)
It was passed in order to give general federal funding for education and to create means of ensuring that underprivileged children may obtain high-quality instruction. With this law in effect, more families, including those with disabilities, now had access to public schooling. Not only did this statute assist the poor, but the modifications that followed it significantly aided states in creating educational initiatives that benefited kids with disabilities. -
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Students with intellectual and learning disabilities who attended state-run institutions won legal victories. The decision mandated that, following a proper and thorough review, individuals with disabilities be enrolled in publicly supported educational environments that addressed their unique educational needs. -
Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia
This decision made it illegal for the D.C. Board of Education to restrict access to publicly financed educational options for "exceptional" people. I believe that Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia delivered a very clear message to every district in the United States that it would not be acceptable to exclude, expel, or suspend any student without following the proper procedures. -
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act of
This law mandated equitable access to education for kids with physical and mental disabilities in all public schools that receive federal funding. Taking legal action to give parents a voice in their children's education was the first step. It also establishes procedural safeguards to defend the children's parents. Ensuring that children requiring special education services may access them was its primary goal. -
Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)
This act prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in a number of sectors, including employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications, and access to state and municipal government services and programs. Although every person is unique, this law assures that children and adults with disabilities have the same opportunities and rights as everyone else. -
Individual with Disabilities Education Act 1997 (IDEA)
The Education for All Handicapped Children's Act had numerous significant revisions that placed a strong emphasis on ensuring that all students had access to the same curriculum and support services as they transitioned from high school to adult life. When kids are given access to the same curriculum and are placed in the least restrictive setting possible, it is easier to set high expectations for them and offers them the chance to work with their classmates. -
Amendment to IDEA Act
The IDEA was updated by Congress, which demanded increased accountability, better educational outcomes, and higher standards for teachers in special education classes. The No Child Left Behind Act, which gives pupils a fair, equal, and meaningful opportunity to get a high-quality education, can also be connected to this amendment. -
Special Education In 2030
We have achieved significant progress in special education over the past 53 years. In order to protect both children and parents, we have enacted new laws, policies, practices, and protections. However, despite all that we have achieved, I am concerned that special education will suffer in the absence of devoted, skilled paraprofessionals, teachers, schools, districts, and resources to complete the objective. -
Educational Equity Still a Dream Deferred
We must start a new era as a nation. No society that denies significant portions of its population access to education can prosper in a modern, knowledge-based economy. Instead, we must guarantee that all of our kids have access to what ought to be a given: a vast and unalienable right to education.