History of Special Education

By mzmcdonald

  • Massachusetts Law of 1642

    This law ordered selectmen of each town to make sure the parents were providing education to their children. The selectmen also selected what would be taught to the children. This law neither specified schools nor required attendance. (Webb & Metha, 2017)

  • Education Law of 1647

    This law required a teacher to teach reading and writing if the town had 50 households and if the town exceeded 100 a grammar school needed to be established.

  • Early 19th Century

    During the 1700's to early 1800's people with disabilities were often institutionalized and not educated. Some facilities were established on the basis of education for the disabled but they normally only received basic care and were often abused.

  • American School for the Deaf (ASD)

    As the first school for children with disabilities, the American School for the Deaf forged an opening to providing education to thousands of Americans with disabilities. It brought about the opening of more educational facilities for the disabled over the next several decades.

  • Cuyahoga Council for Retarded Citizens

    This was the first parent advocacy group of its kind. These five mothers fought for their children to be allowed to attend public school. Special classes were then established for them to attend. "This was a major step toward true educational equality for special needs children in the U.S." (Noah Webster Educational Foundation, 2023)

  • Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka

    The U.S. Supreme Court landmark ruling stating that segregation in public schools was illegal and students of all colors could attend the same school. This was the beginning of the civil rights revolution helping to advance the rights of women and the disabled.

  • Mill vs. Board of Education and Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens (PARC) vs. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    These two landmark court cases helped recognize that children with disabilities have the same right to attend school, receive an education, and receive services, and also expanded the rights of all children.

  • Rehabilitation Act of 1973 & Section 504

    The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehab Act) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by federal agencies, in programs receiving federal financial assistance, in federal employment and in the employment practices of federal contractors. (EARN, retrieved 2023)
    Section 504 of the Rehab Act protects the rights of individuals that have visible disabilities and those with disabilities that may not be apparent.

  • Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA)

    This landmark act made it possible for all children with disabilities to receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE), which is the main principle behind this act. Children were now being evaluated and IEP's implemented, but schools were still not giving students all the necessary supports they needed to succeed. This act also granted federal funds for special education.

  • Rowley vs. Board of Education

    This case dealt with FAPE and getting better definitions of two words. "Reasonably calculated" meaning the educational services proposed by a school district must only be reasonably likely to provide sufficient benefit to the student, and "Appropriate" and related services held the school district accountable for procedural violations that caused harm to the student, and it determined that grades are not to be the sole criteria in determining success. (Lightner, 2023)

  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

    This act was more detailed than the Rehabilitation Act with preventing discrimination with employment. It also made all businesses to make themselves accessible for people with disabilities not just ones that received federal funding. Braille signage, accessible bathrooms, ramps, and ability to use public transportation are just a few.

  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

    This act was the renaming and reauthorization of EHA, which made it possible for students with disabilities to have access to the general education curriculum. Special education students would now be included in state and district assessments. The inclusive movement began here, where special education students were now put into the general education classroom alongside their non-disabled peers with the supports needed to succeed.

  • No Child Left Behind (NCLB)

    Introduced by President George Bush and backed by President Barack Obama, this act made schools and teachers more accountable for students learning. Schools that received low scores on standardized testing were to make changes including replacing teachers with highly qualified teachers and implementing after-school programs to help students who were struggling. It also gave students the right to change schools if they wanted. Schools now gave teacher and principal evaluations.

  • Reauthorization of IDEA

    This reauthorization went along with NCLB. The state level as well as the local level of educational systems were being held accountable for learning and required data to back it up. It also held districts to standards of providing appropriate instruction and interventions to help keep students out of special education.