-
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
The ruling in the Brown V Board of education case found that segregation of public schools was unconstitutional, regardless if the quality of the school was equal. This case paved the way for families of disabled children. Shortly after this ruling parents of disabled children began filing law suits stating that depriving their children with disabilities was discriminating. Link1 -
Department of Public Welfare v Haas
The Supreme Court of Illinois found that no existing legislation required the state to provide free education to anyone considered feeble minded or mentally deficient. It was up to the state to determine if a handicapped student would benefit from common school courses. The Supreme Court found the father of Richard Haas liable for cost of the hospital maintenance fees. it rejected the fathers claims that the hospital was a school which under Article VIII of the 1870 Constitution had to be free. -
Education of Handicapped Act Public Law 91-230
This law established a grant program that aim to help the State run and develop programs for individual with disabilities. However, this act did not provide any direction or guidelines for how these programs should develop. There wasn't any significant impact to the education of disabled children -
Rehabilitation Act of 1973
This was the first civil rights law enacted for individuals with disabilities. It protected all individual with disabilities against discrimination by entities that were received federal financial assistance. It allowed the path for equal opportunities for all adults and children with disabilities. It also aided in the changes needed to be made to architectural structures to facilitate entry for those individuals with disabilities. -
Education for all Handicapped Children Act Public Law 94-142
In 1975 congress enacted the Education for all Handicapped Children Act. This act required public schools to allow students to access to public education regardless if they had a disability or not. It mandated that students be taught in the least restrictive environment. Schools were required to assess the students disability and with parental participation create an educational plan.
A 25 Year History of the IDEA -
Public Law 101-476
This law amended EAHCA of 1975 and was renamed Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. In this amendment traumatic brain injury and autism where identified as disabilities.This also implemented an individual transition plan or ITP. ITP is required to be in place by the time the student is 16. This assists the students in the transition outside of school. Lastly, it established the people first language. IDEA -
Public Law 105-17 (1997 Amendments to PL 94-142)
This law focused on improving IDEA. It mandated that student with disabilities be included in the general curriculum to the highest scope possible. It allowed parents and families of children with disabilities to be more included in the child education at home and school. It also ensured that all personnel that work with children with disabilities receive professional development to make sure they have the skills and knowledge necessary to enable them. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Public Law 105-107
This amended IDEA and required that student with disabilities continue to receive service regardless if they have been expelled from school. It put greater obligation on schools to ensure student are in the LRE and have access to the general curriculum. It called for the general education teacher to become part of the IEP team. It enforced that student with disabilities participate in statewide/district assessments. -
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001
NCLB was implemented to ensure no child is "trapped" in a failing school. This was the first law that mandated that states have to have accountability by assessing students and making standardized tests to ensure all children are meeting or exceeding state standards.It allowed parents to choose which school students attend when their school is not meeting state standards. It intended to provide flexibility to choose where federal funds where allocated NCLB -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act
In 2004 IDEA was reenacted with changes to the law. This updated law included that IEP need to be reevaluated on a yearly bases. It raised the standards for licensure for special education teachers. IDEIA detailed requirement for all children from birth to age 21. Similarly to children (ages 3 - 21) having an IEP, infants to toddlers (ages birth - 3) would have Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). Federal funds were increased to intervention services for those at risk students.
