Special Education Law Timeline

  • Beginning of modern Special Education Movement

    Advocacy for citizens with special needs started to rise as many veterans returned home from WW2 with major disabilities.
  • Public Law 176

    Created awareness for employment opportunities for citizens with special needs.
  • Brown v. Board of Education

    A Supreme Court case that in 1954 ruled segregation in public schools unconstitutional
  • Beginning of Non-Federal Special Education Programs

    States were allowed to create their own special education programs.
  • Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965

    Provided money to help children with disabilities and children under the poverty line access quality education.
  • Education of the Handicapped Act

    Provided funding for states who created education programs for children with special needs.
  • Education for All Handicapped Children Act

    Requires schools to provide special education programs and to generally be non-discriminatory toward students with special needs in all programs.
  • Creation of the National Association for Down Syndrom

    Created to advocate for students with down syndrome and provide support to families with members with down syndrome.
  • Board of Education v. Rowley

    A court case that ruled that as long as the state meets the requirements of current acts, they can carry out special education programs as best seen fit.
  • Americans With Disabilities Act

    Prohibited discrimination of people with special needs in different aspects of life, including education, transportation, and employment.
  • Disabilities Education Improvement Act

    Emphasized reading, math, and science within individualized education programs, as well as within all education.
  • No Child Left Behind Act

    Changed aspects of education from previous acts, including individualized education programs and different accountability methods within schools.