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Special Education Law Timespan
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Brown vs Board of Education
In 1954 Brown vs Board of Education declared that segregation in schools was unconstitutional. The ruling stated that "separate educational facilities were inherently unequal." This laid the groundwork for IDEA giving students access to a free and appropriate public education within a school setting. -
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Section 504 guarantees certain rights for people with disabilities and prohibits discrimination among people with disabilities. This is an important act as any attendance policy within a school district must comply with the ADA and Section 504. A student with disabilities who is chronically absent may be afforded protection under Section 504, ADA or IDEA. An IEP for the student may be revised to reflect the issues surrounding the absences. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
Congress enacts the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. This law was designed to support local and state governments to protect the rights and support the needs of handicapped children. In 1990, it would become renamed and reauthorized to be IDEA - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Before this law was enacted only 1 in 5 children with disabilites were educated. This law made it mandatory for schools to evaluate children with disabilities and create IEPs for each child. -
The Handicapped Children's Protection Act
In 1986, the HCPA was created to give provisions not covered by EHA. This ruling came after the 1984 case Smith vs Robinson and found that legal cost can be awarded to parents of disabled children who prevail in litigation. -
The Individuals with Disabilities Act
The EHA becomes IDEA. IDEA requires all public schools to create and Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for any student that meets the requirement. Students are given the opportunity to attend general ed classrooms in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). Students with disabilites have the right to a Free Appropriate Public Education that is designed to help them achieve success as much as possible within the classroom setting. -
The Assistive Technology Act
This act makes technology accessible for those students with disabilites so they can more fully participate in the educational setting. In 2004, it was reauthorized to increase consistency of its program services.
