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Pre-1950s
Prior to the 1950s children with disabilities were excluded from public schools and students with learning disabilities often dropped out. -
Brown v. Board of Education
This was a landmark decision that changed the way people viewed public education for children. The Supreme Court ruled that "school segregation by race was not constitutional" (Vaughn et al p 4). This was the first time that the government ruled in favor of the under-served population and set the stage for future legislation that opened public schools to children with disabilities. -
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
The ESEA gave protection to disadvantaged children and gave them equal access to public education. Schools provided things like free and reduced lunches because when children were hungry they were at a disadvantage to children who had access to food on a regular basis. Another important aspect of this act was that it provided a grant program "that encouraged states to create and improve programs for students with disabilities (Vaughn et al p 4)." -
Education of the Handicapped Act
This act was a revision of the ESEA that "continued support for state-run programs for individuals with disabilities (Vaughn et al, p 4)." This act did not provide any specific guidelines though or what the programs should look like. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
This act required schools to ensure "that all children, regardless of their disability, receive a free and appropriate public education (Vaughn et al, p 5)." Students with learning disabilities benefited from this act because they were now identified and were provided with special education. -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
This act prohibited discrimination against individuals with disabilities in education, employment, housing, and other areas. It required that public services and employers to provide accommodations for equal access. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
This act was originally the Education for all Handicapped Children Act and was revised to ensure that all children with disabilities were receiving a free and appropriate public education that meets their individual needs. The goal was to provide all children with the same opportunities and extended services. -
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
This act called for improving teacher quality,increased accountability, and giving families greater choice in schools. It also allowed for more flexibility in how federal funds are used. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA)
This act increase the funds that provide for early intervention services in hopes that children would not develop severe discrepancies if services were provided to reduce the gap. It also did things like raise the standards for special education licensure and adopt "policies to prevent disproportionate representation of students in special education by race and ethnicity (Vaughn et al, p 7)."
