Special Education Highlights

Elementary and Secondary Education Act

Jan 1, 1965

This act was the first to include children from disadvantaged communities and those who needed additional help/support. This act included funding for free and reduced lunches as well as additional teachers in disadvantaged communities. The ESEA provided individuals with disabilities a chance at a public school education by encouraging states to create and improve programs for students with disabilites. Students with disabilities were on the way to becoming educated with the help of this act.

Educational Amendments Act

Aug 21, 1974

This act provides equal opportunities for all gifted and talented students; this includes transportation. This law includes the extension of programs for students with special needs in the elementary and secondary schools. It also increased the minimum federal funding of state programs for the gifted and talented students. It also grants special education students and families the right to due process. This law implemented more rights and opportunities to special needs students.

Education for all handicapped children act

Nov 29, 1975

This act requires states to provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) for children with disabilities ages 5 to 18. There was no law before this that said the education had to be appropriate for their needs. This act also requires the school to provide speical students with individualized education programs (IEPs). With this in place the student is guaranteed an education that is appropriate for them. This law put in educational opportunities in place for students with special needs.

Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments

Nov 1, 1986

This act requries states to extend free and and appropriate education to children with disabilities ages 3 to 5. It also provides early intervention programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities ages brith to 2. This law includes services to help special needs children who are deaf-blind and provides transitional help to those moving from middle school to high school and beyond. This law is important because there was no help for younger children with disabilities in the educational field.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Jul 26, 1990

This law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation, public accommodation, communications, and governmental activities. There was no law before this one that protects people with disabilities. This law prohibits educational discrimination so the student is able to get the education they deserve. This law is important to those with disabilities because they have the freedom that other people have.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

Oct 30, 1990

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law ensuring services to children with disabilities throughout the nation. IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education and related services to more than 6.5 million eligible infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities. This is important because it replaces the education for all handicapped children act and it extends and replaces other important ideas within this act.

Individuals with disabilities education improvement act

Dec 3, 2004

This act allows districts to use a response to intervention (RTI) model for determining whether a child has a specific learning disability. This act allows the students to continue their education and it also provides funds to intervene early in a childs education if they do not need speical education they are allowed to be enrolled in other classes suited for them.