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Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504)
Joseph Califano signed this Act in 1973 to help protect disabled students. Students must have no costs attached to testing; all students should have access to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), but the Appropriate element for this act applies to the same education that everyone else receives. This act had the purpose of educating disabled students in schools and beyond but contained gaps that became problematic. (Lee, n.d.). -
EHA (Education for All Handicapped Students Act)
Gerald R. Ford signed the Education for All Handicapped Students Act in 1975, with the goal of ensuring that all handicapped students receive FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education). The main concerns for this Act were funding and Federal controls. While everyone agreed on the main objective, of broadening education for all students, many thought that this Act would not have the proper funding and support that it needed to fulfill its goals. (Encyclopedia n.d.). -
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)
In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act with the intentions of covering any gaps in Section 504. It covers nearly every situation a disabled person would encounter, but due to budget restraints in education, wasn't as effective in schools. Public accommodations were to be made, and there was an emphasis on further testing for disabilities, and this even covers accommodations made in private institutions. (Law Offices of Stimmel, Stimmel, and Roeser, n.d.). -
IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Act)
President Bush signed in IDEA as an amendment for the EHA on Oct. 30, 1990. This Act expanded the resources available to students and helped what will turn into 7.5 million students receive FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education) through the public schools. The Act wanted to ensure that students received support in the least restrictive environment possible and sought to make sure that all students succeeded as well as receive individualized care to fit their specific needs. (IDEA, n.d.). -
NCLB (No Child Left Behind Act of 2001)
President George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act in January of 2002. It put more pressure on teachers to meet even higher standards and increased the federal regulation in public schools. Many people who favored this Act cited that minority students saw an increase in test scores, but many people found issues with this Act due to a lack of federal funding to truly enact the Act's policies. (Duignan, B. and Nolen,. Jeannette L., 2022).