-
Brown vs Board of Education
"Separate but Equal" ruled to be in fact not equal, thus creating equal education for all. Ruled in favor of Brown, and the win helped a lot in establishing the need for equal rights in education. This was the first big event that started more and more law for rights in education for Sped as well as others. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Nearly ten years after Brown v Board of Education, President Johnson signed in the ESEA in 1965. This act helped push the boundaries of education, giving more help and opportunity to those of lower economic status. This act was the second in this timeline to help push the law timeline of special education. -
Mills vs. Board of Education of District of Columbia
Mills vs. Board of Education of District of Columbia occurred in 1972, allowing to make way for changes in further events. This event was described, "seven school-age children who had been denied placement in a public educational program for substantial periods of time because of alleged mental, behavioral, physical or emotional disabilities" ("The Right To Education", 2020). This case later showed ruling in favor of the children. This paved the way for future events in special education equity. -
Rehabilitation Act of 1973
This act followed from the Mill vs. Board of Education of District of Columbia. This act is described as, "Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act was the first disability civil rights law to be enacted in the United States. It prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in programs that receive federal financial assistance, and set the stage for enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Ac" (DREDF, 2018). This act helped push for the equality of financial assistance. -
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act
This act was written in 1974, following the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. FERPA was described as, "protects the privacy of student education records. FERPA applies to any public or private elementary, secondary, or post-secondary school and any state or local education agency that receives funds under an applicable program of the US Department of Education" (CDC, n.d.) This became important in allowing the privacy to records for parents and students. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975
This act followed the FERPA of 1974. This act is described by the USDE, "support states and localities in protecting the rights of, meeting the individual needs of, and improving the results for...infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their families" (USDE, n.d.). This act allowed for the bettering of children with disabilities as well as their families, furthering their education rights and support. -
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
This act followed a while after the EAHCA of 1975. This law is described by the USDJ, "prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life -- to enjoy employment opportunities, to purchase goods and services, and to participate in State and local government programs and services" (USDJ, n.d.). This law helped out more in the way of providing rights and protections of life for Sped. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997
This followed from another IDEA act in 1990, and different more than that one. Brought in ideas in 1997 were, "requires every state to have in effect policies and procedures to ensure a free appropriate public education (FAPE) for all students with disabilities" (USDE, n.d.). This gave more equal opportunity to those with disabilities to get an education where some might not have before. This pushed a good boundary in the special education timeline. -
No Child Left Behind
This followed from the IDEA of 1997, allowing for a furthering of education for those with disabilities. The NLB Act is described, " focus of No Child Left Behind is to close student achievement gaps by providing all children with a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education" (WOSPI, n.d.). This allowed for quality of education for those with disabilities and pushed special education to be furthered in the quality offered between abled and disabled students. -
Every Student Succeeds Act
Following the NCLB act in 2002, this act built upon what it had been before. A highlight of this act includes, "Requires—for the first time—that all students in America be taught to high academic standards that will prepare them to succeed in college and careers" (USDE, n.d.). This act brought a lot of good for the pushing for equality of special education as well as regular education equality. It helped to make sure that students succeed and to support students in doing that.
