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Brown vs Board of Education
Schools that are separate are not equal. Students cannot be excluded from schools on the basis of things they cannot change, in this case, their race. -
Civil Rights Act
This act made it illegal to discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, religion, or national origin. Eventually this would be expanded to include those with special needs. -
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
This act sought to eliminate the differences in educational opportunities between high and low-economic areas. Title I gave money to low income schools to close the gap. The act also allocated resources to states to fund libraries, and to create scholarships for low-income students. -
PARC vs Commonwealth of PA
Students with "mental retardation" are entitled to a free and appropriate public education that is as close as possible to what their non-disabled peers are receiving. -
Mills vs Board of Education
This case determined that because states aren’t allowed to segregate on basis of race, they can’t segregate on the basis of disability. -
The Rehabilitation Act-504
No one with a disability can be excluded from activities or employment by any organization that accepts certain federal money on the sole basis that they have a disability. -
The Education for All Handicapped Children's Act (PL 94-142)
This law required school teams to develop individualized education plans with parent input, with the focus on providing supports to special education students in order to keep them in mainstream classrooms as much as possible. -
Armstrong v. Kline
Determined that eligibility for extended school year services for special education students beyond the mandatory 180 days should be reviewed each year. -
Hendrick Hudson School vs Rowley
This case was the first one to interpret the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. The decision determined that it was not the responsibility of education agency's to help every special education student reach their full potential. Instead, states are required to provide students access to grade level material. -
Irving Independent School District vs Tatro
Another interpretation of the Education for All Handicapped Children of 1975, this case determined that catheterization services for a student with spina bifida must be provided during school hours under the category of "related services". -
Burlington School Committee vs Department of Education
This ruling determined that parents be compensated for money spent on private schooling when the public school is unable to provide a free appropriate public school education in the least restrictive environment. -
EHA Amendment
In 1986, The Education for All Handicapped Children was amended to include toddlers and preschoolers. -
Honig vs Doe
This case affected determined when a student acts on in a way that is related to their disability they may not be suspended for more than 10 days. They also may not be expelled. -
Danny R.R. vs State Board of Education
This case determined that the needs of the rest of the children in the general education class can outweigh the needs of 1 special education student. -
Larry P. vs Riles
Students cannot be put into special education classes based solely on IQ because of the implicit biases that can come from using 1 measure. -
EHA Amendment
The Education for All Handicapped Children amendment in 1990 changed the name to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). -
Americans with Disabilities Act
This is essentially an expansion of the Civil Rights Act to include people with disabilities. This made it illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities in employment, education, and government activities. -
Oberti v. Board of Education
This case upheld the tenet of the least restrictive environment. Schools must provide supplementary resources and supports that enable a child to be successful in the general education classroom before recommending an alternative placement. -
Board of Education in Sacramento CA vs Holland
This case weighed the costs and benefits of including students with disabilities in the general education classroom. The court found that, whenever possible, all students should be included in general education classroom with supports. -
EHA/IDEA Amendment
A re-authorization of IDEA. -
Cedar Rapids Community School District vs Garret F.
Schools must provide students with medical care, including one-on-one nursing services, under the "related services" provision in order to enable all students to access a free and appropriate public education. -
No Child Left Behind
This is considered an update to the EHA (see timeline). This law required states that receive Title I funds to be held accountable for student achievement, including ELL, special education, and low-income students, by mandating achievement assessments in certain grades for certain subjects. -
IDEA Amendment
This update raised the standards for special education teachers. It also amended funding requirements for schools that have a high percentage of minority students in special education. -
Gaskin vs Commonwealth of PA
This case further strengthened the tenet of the least restrictive environment. It requires schools to provide supplementary supports to ensure that students with special needs have access to the general education curriculum. -
Endrew F. vs. the Douglas County School District
This case established that students in special education were entitled to more than the bare minimum in terms of achievement in the general education curriculum. In some cases, if a private school provides more appropriate services, the school district is responsible for the cost.