-
American School for the Deaf
This school was originally called the American Asylum, at Hartford, for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and is located in Hartford, Connecticut. American School for the Deaf is the oldest of its kind and is honored as the first school for deaf children in the western hemisphere. It was the first school to be federally funded. It is also home to America's National Theatre of the Deaf. -
First Ungraded Class in U.S.
Elizabeth E. Farrell is regarded as the founder of the first "ungraded" class in United States public schools. In 1899, Farrell taught a class of 19 students at Henry Street School in the lower east side of New York City. Included in these 19 students were 12 students between the ages of 8 and 16 that were diagnosed as retarded. For more information, see A History of Speech -
Brown vs. Board of Education
The event that took place on this day specifically was in reference to the segregation of students according to race. The Supreme Court found the separation of students as unconstitutional, ending the legalized racial segregation. The decision made in 1954 opened the door and laid the groundwork for a federal law that would be introduced in 1975 regarding children with disabilities in schools.
The Details of Brown vs. Board of Education -
"Bill of Rights"
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act was passed and signed into law by President Gerald Ford. There were six components incorporated into this Act which are 1) A free appropriate public education, 2) The least restrictive environment, 3) an individualized education program, 4) procedural due process, 5) nondiscriminatory assessment, and 6) parental participation. The Education for All Handicapped Children Act is deemed the "Bill of Rights" for children with disabilities. -
Infants and Toddlers
On this day, early intervention services were born, so to speak. This amendment introduced a program catered to the needs of infants and toddlers from birth to two years old who are handicapped. This program was established to enhance development while minimizing potential developmental delays in these small children with disabilities while also improving the capacity for families to meet the child's needs. -
Full Inclusion Movement
Throughout the 1990s, the full inclusion movement demanded for students with disabilities to be educated in a regular education classroom with a unified, responsive education system. They called for all students, with and/or without disabilities, to be educated as one group, under one roof. This movement's purpose was to integrate all students with disabilities into the general education classroom so they can learn and excel with their peers without disabilities. -
A Great IDEA
In 1990, the formerly known Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 was changed to Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This renaming was to emphasize the person rather than the handicap and to replace the term handicapped with disabilities. Another change made was the mandatory transition plan to post-secondary life for students with an IEP starting at age 16. IDEA also added two categories of disabilities to be covered which are traumatic brain injury and autism. -
Oberti vs. Board of Education
Rafael Oberti was an 8-year-old student with Down Syndrome. The school district wanted to place Rafael in a special education class outside of the district and his parents disagreed. The parents ultimately won this case, helping to establish inclusion with the assistance of aids and services as it is a fundamental value to the child with disabilities to have the right to public education. -
No Child Left Behind
An update to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, the No Child Left Behind Act elevated the federal role in keeping schools accountable for the academic progress of their students. In order not to lose their federal funding, this Act prompted schools to heighten the performance of certain students such as English-language learners, poor/minority students, and students in special education. NCLB was meant to close the achievement gap between poor/minority students and their peers. -
Every Student Succeeds Act
President Obama amended the Elementary and Secondary Act of 1965 and replaced the No Child Left Behind Act with Every Student Succeeds Act. While it did keep standardized testing, this Act moves accountability from the federal level to the state level, allowing a little more flexibility for requirements and mandates. Its purpose, similar to the NCLB Act, is to provide all children with a fair, equitable, high-quality education as well as closing the educational achievement gaps.