Special Education History

By tricialunsford

  • Establishment of the first Special Institution

    Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, co-founded the first institution for the education of the deaf in North America. It was known as the "Connecticut Asylum (at Hartford) for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons." The school provided instruction in math, reading, writing, geography, history, and the bible. It is now known as the American School for the Deaf.

  • Brown vs. Board of Education

    This case fought for desegregation of all public school systems in the US. This is the springboard for litigation and legislation regarding students with disabilities.

  • Congress adds Title VI to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965

    The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) was a program enacted in 1965 that allocates federal funding for primary and secondary school education and the establishment of a national curriculum. This Act also holds schools accountable and increases equality in education nationally. The bill was renewed as the No Child Left Behind Act, which was signed into law in 2001.

  • The Rehabilitation Act, Section 504

    This law signed in by President Nixon prohibits discrimination in the workplace and schools and any entity receiving federal funding. Rehabilitation Act Section 504 was the first federal civil rights law specifically aimed to protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities. The Section 504 regulations require a school district to provide a free appropriate public education to each qualified student with a disability, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability.

  • The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

    The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records.

  • Education for All Handicapped Children Act

    This law secured the basic ideals, rights and responsibilities to ensure equal access to public education for all children who are disabled. The key element being that prior written notice be provided to the parent regarding proposes or refuses changes to identification, evaluation or education placement of a child or FAPE.

  • Americans with Disabilities Act

    The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is the nation's first comprehensive civil rights law that prohibits the discrimination of individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life; to include jobs, school transportation, public services, public accommodations, commercial facilities and telecommunications. The overall purpose of the ADA is to make American Society more accessible to people with disabilities.

  • Americans with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997

    The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensures that all children with disabilities are entitled to a free appropriate public education to meet their unique needs and prepare them for independent living. This Act strengthens academic expectations and accountability for the nation's 5.8 million children with disabilities and bridges the gap that has too often existed between what children with disabilities learn and what is required in regular curriculum

  • No Child Left Behind Act

    The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, signed into law by President Bush on Jan. 8, 2002, was a renewed version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The act supported standards-based education reform based on the premise that setting high standards and establishing measurable goals could improve individual outcomes in education. Under the NCLB Act, all teachers were required to be “highly qualified” in the subject they teach.

  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

    On December 3, 2004, a major renewal and revision of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was entered. IDEA is the primary federal program that authorizes state and local aid for special education and related services for children with disabilities.