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John F. Kennedy's "National Plan to Combat Mental Retardation"
JFK along with other experts and developed a plan asking Congress for support for new resources to address the needs of those with mental illness. The Maternal and Child Heath and Mental Retardation Planning Act was granted 265 million dollars to support programs for mentally disabled for 5 years. As well as the Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health Construction Act were granted total of 330 million dollars to build new buildings that will serve disabled citizens for 5 years. -
PARC v. Common Weath of Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children established the right for children with mental disabilities to a public education. This court case laid the groundwork for later legislation granting equal rights to all children with disabilities. The state also agreed to provide full access to a free public education for children with a mental disability for up until the age of 21. -
The Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973
This act specifies that any recipient of federal financial assistance, including state and local educational agencies, must end discrimination in offering its service to persons with disabilities. Some students that are not eligible for help under other special education laws, can receive help under Section 504. So this means if there is a factor that negatively affects a student's learning or ability to function in a school setting their eligible to receive aid. -
FERPA Enacted
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act was signed by President Ford in August but went into effect in November. In which allowed parents to have access to all personal information collected or used by a school district regarding their child. This act also allowed parents to dispute any information on their child's record as well.
https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/leg-history.html -
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act
Before 1975, children with disabilities were almost always denied an education on the basis of their disabilities. EAHCA mandated all school districts to educate students with disabilities. Today we know this law as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. -
ADA Enacted
The Americans with Disabilities Act adopted the Section 504 regulations as part of their statue. In turn, numerous 504 Plans for individual students started to become more common among school districts.The ADA has been defined and redefined again to include all levels of disabilities, including mental health challenges. -
EACHA Amended
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act is now called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). One of the major changes was the addition of transition services for students with disabilities. School districts were now required to assist students with disabilities with the transition from high school to post-secondary life. -
IDEA Reauthorized
President Clinton signed the bill into law. The amendment made it a requirement for students with disabilities to be included in state and district wide assessments . Which also required general education teachers to be apart of IEP team. -
No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act signed into effect by George W. Bush, requires states to develop assessments in basic skills to be be given to all students in a particular grade. The states are required to do it if they are receiving federal funding for their schools. The main goal of NCLB is all students, including those with disabilities, are to be proficient in math and reading by 2014. -
IDEA Reauthorized
The biggest change of IDEA, in 2004, calls for more accountability at the state and local levels. More data on outcomes is required. Another important change involves school districts providing proper instruction and intervention for students to help keep them out of special education classes. https://youtu.be/rgwstMsPvd4
