History of Special Education

Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) (P.L. 89 - 10)

1965

ESEA created an opportunity for students from low income families to have aid in order to attend and benefit from public schools.

Pennsylvania Association of Retarded Children (PARC) v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

1971

This case was aimed to demolish the Pennsylvania law and ensure the equality of education for all students. Children with disabilities was the inclusion in this case for free education in public schools.

Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia

1972

This case was established when seven students were denied access into the public schools educational program because of their variety of disabilities.This case was significant because it outstretched the right to special education to students of all disabilities.
https://www.clearinghouse.net/detail.php?id=11084

Vocational Rehabilitation Act (VRA) (P.L 93 - 112 Section 504)

1973

This federal law bans discrimination of people with disabilities in any federal funding receiving programs. It also defines the word disability differently than the 13 categories specified in the IDEA. Under this Act teachers and administrators have to provide accommodations and modifications from the Section 504 Plan.

Educational Amendments Act (P.L. 93 - 380)

1974

This Act focuses on state funding for students with disabilities and students who are talented and gifted also due process rights for the students and families. This Act includes the equality of education and transportation and information regarding federal funded programs.

Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) (P.L. 94 - 142, Part B)

1975

This Act focuses on free and appropriate education for students with disabilities between the ages of 5 to 18 years old and IEPs. It defines least restrictive environment. It improves how children with disabilities were identified and educated, the evaluation of the success of these efforts and provision of due process to students. Financial incentives were also granted to states to comply.

Board of Education of Hendrick Hudson Central School v. Rowley

1982

This court case was established when Amy Rowley, a deaf student, was denied a sign language interpreter from Furnace Woods School. The teachers and administrators determined that this particular student did not need the extra aid. This case clarified the definition of FAPE, which means free, appropriate public education.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/board-of-education-of-the-hendrick-hudson-central-school-district-v-rowley-in-1982.html

Honig v. Doe

1988

This court case was established when a student from Louise Lombard School, a developmental center for disabled children, was suspended awaiting expulsion. This student had a disability which caused him to have trouble controlling his impulses. On November 6, 1980, this student was teased by another student and impulsively responded by attacking the student and damaged school property by kicking out a window. As a result, schools cannot expel students for behaviors related to their disability.

No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)

2001

This Act aims to increase accountability and flexibility in use of federal funds to improve student achievements, offers school choice options for students and families, and implements early reading interventions.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) (P.L. 108-446)

2004

This act grants the Response to Intervention model to determine is there is a learning disability, increases funding to early intervention services for students who don't need special education, and discards IEP short term objectives for some students.