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American Asylum for the Education and Instruction for the Deaf and Dumb was established
This was the first special education school established in the United States. It was founded in Hartford, Connecticut by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. Now, it is called the American School for the Deaf. -
Law passed in Rhode Island mandating compulsory education for children.
Not all states had compulsory education at this time. -
Dorothea Dix gives monumental speech advocating for disabled.
Dorothea Dix's speech changed the way people viewed the disabled. She spoke out for equal rights for people with mental illness and disabilities. Because of her, legislators began to change laws. -
Council for Exception Children (CEC) was formed
The CEC is now a major professional organization for special educators. -
Brown v. BOE 1954
This court case influenced parents of children with disabilities as they began to file their own lawsuits against school districts for excluding and segregating their children in the school system. -
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
This act ensured that students who were at a disadvantage had access to quality education. -
ESEA was amended
The act was amended a year after it was enacted to include children with disabilities. -
Mills v. BOE of District of Columbia
Court ruled that children with disabilities could not be suspended, excluded, or expelled from classes without giving them due process of law. -
Pennsylvania Ass. for Retarded Children v. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (PARC)
This case dealt with excluding mentally handicapped children from public schools. Ruling agreed that parents must be involved with placement decision. -
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA)
This legislation made sure that children with disabilities were educated. Congress also included procedural safeguards that protect the rights of parents and children. It also stated that children with disabilities must be placed in the least restrictive environment. This would allow them the maximum time to interact and be educated in the same classroom environment as their non-disabled peers. -
BOE of Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley
This was the first special education court case to be heard before the Supreme Court. The court ruled that student who meet qualification to receive special education services must have access to public school programs that meet their educational needs. This set a standard for lower courts to follow in deciding free and appropriate public education. -
EHA reformed into the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
IDEA still focused on keeping children with disabilities in the general education setting, ensuring parents are involved in decisions affecting their children, and also required every child with a disability to have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to meet their needs in the classroom. -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
This act made sure that the disabled received equal treatment and consideration in employment opportunities, and also had equal access to accommodations in public. -
IDEA was reauthorized
The act raised the expectations for students while providing more supports. It required that students be given measurable annual goals and that the progress of these goals be reported to parents. It also increased parent involvement in the IEP and special education process. -
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB)
This act was meant to close achievement gaps of students with disabilities. It required all public schools that receive federal funds to give annual statewide standardized test to all students. It also required schools receiving Title I funding to make adequate yearly progress on test scores. -
IDEA was amended again
IDEA 2004 sought to give every child an education that meets their individual needs. It was also designed to ready children for employment opportunities, living independently, and furthering their education. It also offered protection of the rights of children with disabilities and their parents. -
NCLB was replaced with Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
This act gives individual states the authority to set their own goals for student achievement.