-
The American School for the Deaf
Located in Hartford, CT, The American School for the Deaf was the first special education for the deaf. Originally named Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons. The idea first came about when Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet was teaching Alice Cogswell, Mason Fitch Cogswell's nine year old daughter whom was deaf/nonspeaking, how to write basic words. They both joined forces and opened the first institution of which the first class had 7 students. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
Signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, ESEA offers grants for students in low-income areas, federal grants for books (textbooks and library books), scholarships for low-income college students as well, and the funding needed for special education centers. This act paved the way for programs such as Head Start, Title I, and the No Child Left Behind Act. It also applies to children who need additional support so they can also benefit from education programs offered in public schools. -
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
PARC denied the state the right to turn down a "mentally retarded" child access to free public education. Prior to, law allowed for children to be left out of a free public education if they were certified as not attaining a "mental age" of 5 years old by the time they reached the age of 8. PARC provided the concept for FAPE and the right of due process for these students. Link text -
Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia
The Mills case was in a sense an extension of broadening the term "free public education" from the PARC case in 1971. Peter Mills was a 12 year-old student whose school excluded him from a public education due to his behavioral issues being too expensive to maintain. The court ruled that the state had to provide "adequate and alternative education services" to every child eligible no matter their mental, physical, and emotional disability. -
Vocational Rehabilitation Act (VRA)
This act is in accordance to Section 504, which defines the terms "handicapped person" and "appropriate education". This law states that there shall be equal access and reasonable accomodations within the education and community settings. Student with disabilities and their families need to be taught by educators the provisions of these laws as well as how to self-advocate. Discrimination against students with disabilities in federally funded programs was prohibited. -
Educational Amendments Act
Signed by President Richard Nixon, this act granted federal funds to states for exceptional learners to have the necessary programming to assist them. Within this act was included the first federal funding of state programs for those talented and gifted students. Families and students are granted the right of due process in special education placement. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA)
EAHCA brought about the requirement for students with disabilities eligible to have individualized education programs (IEPs). Also required was for states who received federal funding to provide FAPE for children with disabilities (5 to 18 years of age). Students were to also be placed in least restrictive environments (LRE). LRE's are ideally general education classes with neurotypical students and students with disabilities. Another nickname for this law is the "Mainstreaming Law". -
Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments
These Amendments required for states to include children with disabilities, ages 3 to 5, to a free and appropriate education. Early intervention programs were enforced also for children found eligible, between the ages of birth to 2 years old, at no cost to them. States were given grants to assist in these early intervention services as well as services for the children and their families. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
This act replaces and renames EAHCA of 1975. This legislation focused on the child's educational needs and progress by creating six key items within it. IEP, FAPE, LRE, Appropriate Evaluation, Parent and Teacher Evaluation, and Procedural Safeguards are the pillars of this act. FAPE and LRE had been previously used in the earlier acts under special education. LREs are a focus within IDEA because the goal is to have the student in a general education setting or work towards getting them there. -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
This civil rights law prohibits individuals with disabilities from discrimination in all areas of their public livelihood. These areas include transportation, schools, jobs, and all public/private places open to the public. This law also includes people with AIDS to be included under the definition of "disability". Individuals with disabilities are also granted the right to equal opportunity for employment. -
No Child Left Behind Act
This act was created with the goal to close student achievement gaps by providing a fair, equal, and opportunity for all children to receive a high-quality education. Signed by President Bush, this law also increased the role of the federal government in education. It included the provision of holding schools accountable for their students academic performance. Standardized testing for grades 3-8 in reading in math was also enforced.
Link Text -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA)
The reauthorization of IDEA 1997 followed along the lines of "No Child Left Behind". It enhanced parent involvement, accountability for results, and proven practices/materials as well as other objectives. The RTI model was allowed to be used by districts to determine whether a learning disability was present. Funds were also increased for early intervention services for students who do not need special education or related services.