Special Education

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas (347 U.S. 483)

May 17, 1954

*Separate schools based on race were in fact unequal
*Education is a function of the government, and all individuals have the right to an equal education

Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Sep 26, 1973

*Civil rights law
*Law that protects children and adults against discrimination on the basis of a disability
*Section 504, which makes reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities

Lau v. Nicholas

Jan 21, 1974

*Equal educational opportunity
*U.S. Supreme Court ruling that providing the materials and instruction in English is not equality
*Required schools to offer special programs to English learners in order to provide equal educational opportunity

Public Law 94–142

Nov 29, 1975

*Viewed as "Bill of Rights" for children with exceptionalities
*Assures all handicapped children have access to a free and appropriate education
*This law includes: a free appropriate public education, the least restrictive environment, an individualized education program, Procedural due process, nondiscriminatory assessment and parental participation

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Jul 26, 1990

*Extends protection of individuals with disabilities in the private sector, transportation, telecommunications, employment, public and privately owned business to provide accommodations, and services of the local and state government
*Assists adolescents and adults transition to employment and adulthood by ensuring them equal access across settings

Oberti v. Board of Education of the Borough of Clementon School District

1992

*Least restrictive environment
*Placement in general education classrooms with supplementary services must be offered
*Pupil cannot be excluded from a general education environment because of curriculum, services or if they require modifications

Educate America Act of 1994 [PL 103–227]

Mar 31, 1994

*Initiated challenging academic standards
*Stringent graduation requirements
*Concerned with establishing educational equity among students

Agostine v. Felton

Jun 23, 1997

*Provision of services
*Reversal by the U.S. Supreme Court banning the delivery of publicly funded services to students in private schools
*Special education providers can now provide services to those in private or parochial schools

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004

2004

*Increased focus of special education to improve educational performance
*Aligned special education services with national school improvement efforts to include standards, assessments and accountability

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (PL 114–95)

Dec 10, 2015

*For students with learning disabilities, ESSA ensures access to the general education curriculum, accommodations on assessment, access to evidence-based interventions and the use of universal design for learning principles.