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Brown v. The Board of Education
This was a court case that ruled that school segregation by race was not constitutional. This was the first time the government advocated for equality for students who were at a disadvantage. This case paved the way for more advocacy for equality and equity in education. Brown v. The Board of Education -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
This act helped low-income families access high-quality education programs. It allowed for students to qualify for free and reduced lunch in disadvantaged communities. This proved that there was a need to make education more equitable in certain demographics. -
Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia
This case occurred when a handicapped child was excluded from accessing public education. The lawsuit was in favor of the student and required the state to provide "adequate alternative education services". This led to better documentation in later cases. -
Education for all Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA)
This act was also known as the Mainstreaming Law. It required schools to provide free public education for children with disabilities. It started making Individual Education Plans (IEPs) mandatory for all students with disabilities and it was the first act to define least restrictive environments fro students. -
Board of Education of Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley
This court case clarified the definition of a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). The court ruled that the old legislature expressed that states were required to provide sufficient but not the best possible support for students with disabilities. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
This act extended Special Education Services to include Social Work, assistive technology, and rehabilitation services. It also required states to educate students with disabilities for the transition to employment. IDEA Video -
Individuals with Disabilities Education ACT (IDEA) (Public Law 105-17)
This modification was made seven years later. It required schools to assume greater responsibility for ensuring that students with disabilities have access to the general education curriculum, reinforcing the idea that students with disabilities can participate and thrive in less restrictive learning environments, even if they choose to have a mediator or other assistive technologies. -
Cedar Rapids v. Garret F.
this court case was created because Garret was a little boy who was paralyzed but had normal brain function. This led to the family going to court to rule that under IDEA, students must be provided with the supplemental services they need to attend school at no extra cost to their parents. -
Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act (IDEIA)
This act modified IDEA and allowed the district to use a Response-to-Intervention model for determining whether or not a child has a specific learning disability. It also raised the standard for special education licensure. -
Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District
This ruling clarified that schools must provide challenging and measurable instruction and/or behavioral goals, use progress monitoring systems to ensure these goals are met, and adapt instruction to document progress. This showed that kids with learning disabilities did not need to be given separate classrooms with a less challenging curriculum.