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Compulsory Education Laws
All states in the U. S. pass school attendance legislation which require ALL children to attend public school.
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Brown vs Board of Education
Requires public schools to educate ALL children equally, regardless of race. Previously, white and African American students educated in separate facilities. Where segregated schools were not available or were inferior to white schools, African American children were often denied equal educational opportunity.
This decision inspired parents and others to advocate and demand desegregation laws to apply to disabled students too, paving the way for future disability laws and policies. -
itle I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) (P.L. 89-10)
Provides ALL children significant opportunity to receive fair, equitable, and high quality education to close educational achievement gaps.
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Handicapped Children’s Early Education Assistance Act (P.L. 90-538)
Authorizes preschool and early education programs for ALL handicapped children.
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The Vocational Rehabilitation Act (P.L. 93-112)
This Civil Rights Act made it illegal to discriminate against ALL people solely due to their handicap. Discrimination includes access to buildings for those who are handicapped (Section 502). Federal contractors must take action to employ the handicapped (section 503). Section 504 provides for program accessibility and free appropriate public education, including evaluation, placement procedures, and procedural safeguards.
Citation: Thinking Through Collaboration Page 20 -
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) (P.L. 94-142)
Requires a free appropriate public education (FAPE) suited for the student’s individual needs, and offered in the least restrictive environment (LRE) be provided for ALL "handicapped" children ages 3-21. Previously, many states had laws excluding children with disabilities from public schools. Now educators must use the IEP process to address the needs of students.
Citation: Thinking Through Collaboration Page 20 -
FSM Code Title 40
This code includes the provisions for compulsory education for ALL students from first grade to eighth grade, or until the age of 14.
Citation: SIGMA Associations, Newsletter Issue #5, June 2024. -
Compact of Free Association Act (COFA)
Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) enters a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the United States, a key milestone in Micronesian history. This enables the people of FSM to participate in select U.S. federal programs such as grant opportunities and financial support to develop infrastructure, improve education, and enhance healthcare services in FSM.
Citation: SIGMA Associations, Newsletter Issue #5, June 2024. -
The Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments (P. L. 99-457)
Reauthorizes the Education of the Handicapped Act (EHA) of 1975 to include ALL children with special needs from birth through five years of age and establishes programs to assist states in the development of early intervention services.
Citation: Thinking Through Collaboration Page 20 -
Americans with Disability Act (ADA)
Prohibits discrimination against ALL people with disabilities in several areas, including employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications, and access to state and local government programs and services.
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Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (P.L. 101-476)
Renames the 1975 Education of All Handicapped Children Act to Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It changes the terminology from “handicap“ to ”disability.” Additionally it mandates transition services to help ALL students with disabilities plan for life and work after high school. IDEA requires the Individual Education Plan (IEP) to be designed with parental approval to meet the needs of every child with a disability.
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FSM National Literacy Act
The act was passed which allows for the creation of FSM adult education program. The program offers adult education and literacy training to ALL adults in Micronesia.
Citation: About FSM (NDOE) -
FSM (P.L. 7-97)
FSM’s Congress passed P.L. 7-97, which called for the establishment of a full fledged Department of Education (NDOE).
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FSM Special Education Act of 1993 (P.L. 8-21 Title 40)
FSM recognizes the nation’s obligation to provide free appropriate education to ALL elementary aged children with disabilities. It also establishes the Special Education Program within the FSM NDOE and requires each state to provide special education and to submit an annual program progress report. -
Amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) (P.L. 105-17)
IDEA is significantly amended. The definition of disabled children is expanded to include three and nine olds and ALL parents as full and equal members of the IEP team and process. The amendment also authorizes additional grants for technology, disabled infants and toddlers, parent training, and professional development.
Citation: Thinking Through Collaboration Page 21 -
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) P.L. 107-110
This act is “designed to close achievement gaps, increase equity, improve the quality of instruction, and increase outcomes for ALL students.” so that no child is left behind in learning. NCLB requires annual assessments for all students in reading and math.
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Compact of Free Association of Amendments Act of 2003- Section 105(f)(B)(ii)(I)
FSM maintains its eligibility under IDEA and continues to educate ALL students with disabilities. -
Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004) (H.R. 1350)
IDEA 2004 reauthorizes and modifies IDEA. The changes include modifications to the Individualized Education Plan (lEP) process and procedural safeguards, increased authority for school personnel in special education placement decisions, and aligns the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. (ESEA). ALL students are included in the accountability systems.
Citation: Thinking Through Collaboration Page 22 -
FSM Special Education Act of 1993 Title 40 Amended (P.L., 14-08)
This amendment is prompted by the new requirements of IDEA 2004 enhancing the definition of free appropriate public education (FAPE) to include free secondary education for ALL children with disabilities. The law encourages all school facilities to be fully accessible to students with disabilities. Accessibility refers to building structures as well as curriculum and instruction. -
Amendments to the Compact of Free Association 2024
The renewal of the Compact of Free Association (COFA) provides continued funding by the United States to Federated States of Micronesia and the support for basic service delivery of health and education through 2044. FSM maintains its eligibility under IDEA and continues to educate ALL students with disabilities. This amendment also includes provision of services for infants and toddlers with disabilities.