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Plessy v Ferguson
US Supreme Court rules that segregation based on race is Constitutional so long as equal facilities are available. This case is the beginning of the use of "separate but equal" as a precedence to justify segregation. (Plessy v Ferguson, 1896) -
Brown v Board of Education
The United States Supreme Court rules segregated schools to be unconstitutional. (Brown v Board of Education, 1896) -
Mills v Board of Education of District of Columbia
Precedent is set stating that a school districts lack of funding does not excuse them from providing Special Education services. Federal legislation begins taking a heavier role in providing special education. (Mills v Board of Education of District of Columbia, 1972) -
Pennsylvania Association of Retarded Citizens (PARC) v Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania court rules that schools may not exclude students from receiving a Free Appropriate Education due to mental retardation, or other disabilities. This paves the way for federal legislation on the issue of special education, leading to IDEA. (Pennsylvania Association of Retarded Citizens v Pennsylvania, 1972) -
FERPA- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
Federal Law that protects the confidentiality of education records and PII of students in schools that are publicly funded. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (IDEA)
Act passed by Congress that ensures handicapped children are to receive a free appropriate education. It would later go through several revisions. -
Hendrick Hudson Board of Education v Rowley
"Free Appropriate Public Education" is interpreted in more specific terms. When sufficient support services are provided that benefit the students education. (Hendrick Hudson Board of Education v Rowley, 1982) -
Roncker v Walter
Neil Roncker was a severely mentally disabled child who also suffered from seizures. Neill was given special education in an enclosed environment setting, which his mother appealed seeking to put him in a LRE, as required by EHA. The court overturned the schools placement decision, seeking an alternative LRE. (Roncker v Walter, 1983) -
Irving Independent School District v. Tatro
The Tatro's daughter had a neurological bladder disorder that required periodic changing of catheters. Although her school provided special ed, they refused to include catheter services in her plan, seeing it as a medical, and not a related service to special ed. The Supreme Court rules that the catheter service is in fact a related service covered under EHA, and the school must oblige by it. (Irving Independent School District v. Tatro, 1984) -
School Committee of the Town of Burlington v. Department of Education of Massachusetts
The US Supreme Court rules that the EHA requires public schools to pay reimbursement for private school tuition and transportation if a FAPE cannot be provided. The Court also noted that this reimbursement is only available when the school district recommends alternative placement through an IEP, and parents cannot make this decision unilaterally. (School Committee of the Town of Burlington v. Department of Education of Massachusetts, 1985) -
School Committee of Burlington v. Department of Education of Massachusetts
The Court rules that as part of the Education of the Handicapped Act parents may be reimbursed for tuition and transportation needs of students, when their needs can only be met by private schools. Additionally, without the consent of local school authorities, parents cannot enroll their children in private schools and expect reimbursement. (School Committee of Burlington v. Department of Education of Massachusetts, 1985) -
Public Law 99-457
Amendment added to the Education of the Handicapped Act, which requires states to provide FAPE to disabled preschool age children (3-5). -
Polk v. Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit 16
Christopher Polk, a student with intellectual disabilities and encephalopathy, a disease similar to cerebral palsy, was provided physical therapy by his school district by a school aid, rather than a certified physical therapist, which his parents did not consider FAPE, and appealed against it. The court found this plan to be de minimus, and did not provide a FAPE. (Polk v. Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit 16, 1988) -
Timothy W v Rochester School District
US First Court of appeals rules that all public school districts must provide Special Education to all qualifying students no matter the severity of their impairments nor any inability to demonstrate learning. (Timothy W v Rochester School District, 1989) -
Daniel R.r. v State Board of Education
The US Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit rules that Daniel, an intellectually challenged 6 year old boy is not to be educated among his non disabled peers in a mainstream pre-Kintergarden classroom. The Court affirms the placement decision of the school district over the wishes of Daniels parents, who desired to see him taught in a mainstream classroom. (Daniel R.r. v State Board of Education, 1989) -
1990 Amendments to IDEA
Transition plans become a part of students IEP's. Autism and TBI are added to the list of disorders covered. -
Gun Free School Act
Federal law which requires states to adopt legislation banning guns in schools. The legislation applies to any school which receives public funding, and contains mandatory disciplinary measures, such as minimum expulsions for student gun possession. -
IDEA 1997
IDEA is expanded upon, which includes more disorders or disabilities than it had previously. -
Springer v Fairfax County School Board
The US District Court, Alexandria division rules that the parents of Edward Springer aren't entitled to reimbursement for the tuition of private school. The Springers claimed Edward was entitled to special ed, which the Fairfax public school system failed to provide him, and from which he was pulled. Evidence was found which disproved Edwards eligibility for special education, and his parents weren't deemed deserving of tuition reimbursement. (Springer v Fairfax County School Board, 1997) -
Cedar Rapids Community School District v. Garrett F.
The Court rules that schools must provide any "related" services to a students disabilities that will help them access better opportunities to education. Additionally, the cost of providing IDEA related services that keep a student in school shall not be the determining factor in whether a school district provides them. (Cedar Rapids Community School District v. Garrett F., 1999) -
Neosho R-V School District v. Clark
The parents of Robert Clark, a disabled student with inappropriate behaviors claim he was denied a FAPE by his school. Although, Robert was given support services, his behavioral support services were deemed inadequate, which the court ruled to be a denial of FAPE. (Neosho R-V School District v. Clark, 2003) -
No Child Left Behind
Schools are held accountable for the academic performance of students, include those that receive special education. -
Mr I. v Maine Admin District #55
LI, a student with Aspergers, showed moderate success academically, but was was socially hostile and suffered from depression. She was denied special education by her school district. The school districts reasoning was that while IDEA required schools to support students academically, it did not need to do so socially. The US Court rules against the school district, arguing that "educational performance" in IDEA is not limited to academics. (Mr I. v Maine Admin District #55, 2007) -
TITLE X PUBLIC HEALTH CHAPTER 126-U
Law which governs the use of physical restraints on minors for specialized schools and institutions. The law dictates when and how a restraint can happen. -
Lakeview Rehabilitation Center shut down
Lakeview Rehabilitation Center was shut down after evidence showed patterns of abuse, neglect, unsatisfactory services, and non-compliance with government officials. -
Endrew F. v Douglas County School District
The United States Supreme Court rules that school districts must create IEP's calculated in a way that enables each student to make progress appropriate for their particular circumstances. In ruling this the precedent of "de minimus" progress as had been interpreted from Hudson Central School District v. Rowley is no longer the guiding standard for determining a FAPE. (Endrew F. v Douglas County School District, 2017) -
Sununu Youth Center Abuse Incident
After the breaking of a breaking a youth's arm, the Sununu Youth Services Center was subject to lengthy investigation. The investigation found that SYSC service workers had violated 126-U:1 in imposing unlawful and unnecessary physical restraints.
