History of Special Education

Elementary and Secondary Education Act

1965

Signed by President Johnson, the act provides additional resources for low-income students. The federal government funds public primary schools for equal opportunities. https://blog.ed.gov/2015/04/what-is-esea/

PARC v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

1971

This was the first right to education case in the country. It guaranteed special education for children with intellectual disabilities. It also became the basis for the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (1975). https://study.com/academy/lesson/parc-v-commonwealth-of-pennsylvania-in-1972-summary-significance.html

Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia

1972

This case established the right for every child to receive a free public education regardless of disabilities. This case also ensured that students with disabilities or exceptionalities cannot be denied a public education.

Vocational Rehabilitation Act

1973

Defined handicapped person and appropriate education, prohibits discrimination of disabled people in federally funded programs. This is to say that if an employer chooses to employ a disables person, they are responsible for making accommodations for that employee.

Education for All Handicapped Children Act

1975

Requires free and appropriate education for students with disabilities (ages 5-18). This meant that all public schools must provide equal learning access to students with mental and physical disabilities. Students with disabilities must be evaluated by the school and the school would need to come up with a learning plan for that particular student. https://study.com/academy/lesson/education-for-all-handicapped-children-act-summary-impact.html

Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments

1986

This act is very similar to the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, but this act extends free and appropriate education to children with disabilities (ages 3-5), establishes early intervention for infants/ toddlers with disabilities (ages birth to 2).

Honig v. Doe

1988

This case ensures that schools cannot expel students for behaviors related to their disability. John Doe was a student who because of his disability, was teased and became violent. Due to his action one day, he was suspended and facing expulsion, but it was something he was unable to control due to this disability.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

1990

This act replaced EAHCA. This new act expands special education services and provisions for due process and confidentiality, adds autism and traumatic brain injury categories, provides bilingual education, requires transition services and planning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XMndYNEGFA&feature=emb_logo

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

1997

Requires students with disabilities to receive services even if expelled, allows use of developmental delay category through age 9, requires access to general education curriculum and state/district-wide testing, IEP team includes a general education teacher and a behavior plan (if warranted), offers mediation options, limits attorneys fees

Cedar Rapids v. Garret F.

1999

This case established that schools are responsible to provide students with full-time nursing services if necessary for that student to continue receiving a free special education. This was due to a student who was on a ventilator and required full-time nursing services.

No Child Left Behind Act

2001

This act requires that all schools take on responsibility for the academic achievement of their students. In order to continue to receive federal funding, schools are required to test their students every year in order to continue to receive funding. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0--2nhsDorg

Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act

2004

Allows RTI model to determine the presence of a learning disability, increases funding to early intervention services for students who do not require special education,raises special education licensure standards, adopts polices to prevent over-representation of minority students in special education https://www.nasponline.org/research-and-policy/policy-priorities/relevant-law/individuals-with-disabilities-education-improvement-act-(idea)