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American School for the Deaf founded
This school was the first primary and secondary education school to receive aid from the federal government. They recruited teachers from Europe, among them Laurent Clerc from the National Institute for Deaf Children of Paris. The school was founded by Thomas Gallaudet, Dr. Mason Cogswell, and relied heavily on Laurent Clerc’s expertise in teaching deaf children in its early years.
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Beattie v. Board of Education
In this case, the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld a ruling that a student could be kept from a school due to behavior relating to their disability. A student had a disability that caused him to drool, have involuntary facial contortions, and have speech problems; teachers and schools didn't want to accommodate the student. The courts agreed with the Board of Education that the student required too many resources and attention from the teacher and caused disruptions in the classroom. -
The Council for Exceptional Children Established
This organization was established by a group of administrators and supervisors at Columbia University and began with 12 members. The organization operates to present day and is a long-lasting, large advocacy group for students with disabilities. Their goal behind all their guidelines and training of educators is that students with disabilities receive a free and appropriate education (FAPE). -
Brown v. Board of Education
This was the first instance in which the federal government advocated for students who experienced inequality at school, and paved the way for future legislation for individuals with disabilities having equal access to education. The Supreme Court noted schools that were “separate but equal” was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. School policy towards FAPE is heavily shaped by the Brown v. Board interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment. -
PARC v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
This 1971 ruling challenged the constitutionality of excluding individuals with mental retardation from public education. The state was not allowed to “deny to any mentally retarded child access to a free public program of education and training.” Finally, the quality of the education and training given to the children with disabilities had to match that of the education and training given to general students. -
Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia
This case concerned children with handicaps being excluded from public schools.The suit required the state to provide “adequate alternative education services” as well as “prior hearing and periodic review of the child’s status, progress, and adequacy of any educational alternative” (348 F. Supp., at 878). The case established that "all children are entitled to free public education and training appropriate to their learning capacities" -
The Education for all Handicapped Children Act
This act required all public schools accepting federal funds to provide equal access to education and one free meal a day for children with physical and mental disabilities. Additionally, schools were required to evaluate students with disabilities and develop an education plan that could accommodate their needs. Finally, this legislation gave parents of children with disabilities procedures to dispute decisions made concerning their child’s education. -
Board of Education of Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley
Amy Rowley was a fifth grader that was deaf and needed a hearing aid to hear words spoken by her teacher. She had grades higher than the average student. This was in spite of the fact that she may not have been achieving maximally and might have benefited from an interpreter, the court ruled that P.L. 94-142 requires states to provide sufficient, but not the best possible, support for students to benefit from a public education at a level typical of that of nondisabled peers. -
Honig v. Doe
This case benefited individuals with emotional and/or behavior disorders. The ruling stated that schools could not expel children for behaviors related to their disability. The Court, to still give schools discretion, concluded that school officials are entitled to seek injunctive relief to exclude students from school when the interests of maintaining safe learning environments for all outweighs the dangerous child’s right to receive a free and appropriate public education. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
The goal of this legislation was to provide children with disabilities the same opportunity for education as students who do not have a disability. This law includes 6 pillars: FAPE, LRE, IEP, evaluation, parent/student participation, and all procedural safeguards for participants. This law was signed into law by George W. Bush and expanded on the 1975 Education for all Handicapped Children Act.
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