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First Special Education School in the U.S.
In 1817, the very first special education school in the U.S. was established in Hartford, Connecticut, "American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb" and is now renamed as, "American School for the Deaf". The school aimed to teach students with disabilities and provide appropriate educational programs to them.
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Compulsory Education for Children
In 1918, it was compulsory education for students with disabilities was made mandatory, but with the uproar of anti-institution sentiment, many children with disabilities were forced out of institutional settings to public schools. But many were still excluded from public schools and had to resort to home-schooling in order to get an education. -
Council of Exceptional Children
In 1922, the Council of Exceptional Children was organized. It was a group of professional special educators with the goal of providing safe and effective teachings for students with disabilities, and improving their educational process as a whole.
https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/council-exceptional-children -
Special Ed. and Public Ed. Joined
In 1960, special education teachers were teaching students in a variety of settings such as hospital schools, day schools, at home, special classes in public schools, and even small groups. Special education educators began to take upon the role of consultant and assisted teachers in finding the best ways to teach students with disabilities. -
Rehabilitation Act Section 504
Rehabilitation Act Section 504 was the first federal civil rights law that aimed itself at protecting individuals with special needs or disabilities, including adults and children of school age. This law prohibited programs to exclude students and looked to protect students that may have physical/mental impairments. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
In 1975, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) was signed into law by President Gerald Ford, but it was not until 1977 that the act reached full implementation. This required schools to give free, suitable, and nondiscriminatory education for all their students with disabilities. -
The Americans with Disabilities Act
In 1990, George W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act which prohibits any discrimination against people with disabilities or special needs. This act pushes for people of disabilities to lead the same lives and have the same opportunities as everyone else. For example, purchasing goods, participating in government programs, and/or job opportunities.
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Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
In 1997, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was enacted. It provided Individualized Educational Plans, also known as IEPs, and introduced a set of standards for disciplining children with special needs or disabilities for educators to follow. It also provided services for parents and trainings. -
IDEA Aligns with No Child Left Behind Act
In 2004, IDEA was revised and aligned with the No Child Left Behind Act standards and requirements. This consisted of raising the standards for special educators who teach special education in schools, and even early intervention services for children. -
Every Student Succeeds Acts (ESSA)
The Every Student Succeeds Acts (ESSA) is the main law that is implemented for k-12 public schools in the United States and replaced No Child Left Behind in 2015 in order to refine and address criticisms. The goal of this act is to ensure that all children are being presented with quality education opportunities and provide equal opportunities for disadvantaged and disabled students.