Special Education Law Timeline

By mrose17

  • Civil Rights Act of 1866

    The civil rights act of 1866, was the first act that declared american citizens all and equal benefits for one's own security and property.

  • Plessy V. Ferguson

    Although, this act isn't directly towards special education, it is part of an act that helped equal rights. It was a doctrine that came to be known as "separate but equal". It was the first major inquiry into the meaning of the 14th amendments. It was then however overturned by the Supreme Court in the next timeline topic "Brown V. Board of Education.

  • Brown V. Board of Education

    Equal education for students with all differences was done through this act. Mostly it was racial differences being equal, but it was a first step to help equal education for those with a disabilities as well.

  • PARC V. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    PARC was the first act to laws that denied or excluded students with mental disabilities from attending public school.

  • Mills V. Board of Education

    The Mills V. Board of Education act finally addresses the issue of education for children with disabilities directly. At times children with disabilities were refused enrollment to public schools. Mills expanded the Parc case by going beyond children with developmental disabilities.

  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

    The 504 section of the Rehabilitation act, was the anti-discrimination for students with disabilities and requires the needs for the students to be met and satisfied.

  • Education for all Handicapped Children Act

    This was the act that had all public schools to accept federal funds to that provided equal access to education.

  • Americans with Disabilities Act

    This act is very similar to the Individual with Disabilities.

  • Individuals with Disabilities Act

    This act is for students with disabilities and that they get the free public education that others do and that gives them their individual needs.

  • No Child Left Behind

    This law is follows federal education programs and is basically a reauthorized ESEA law.

  • Citations:

    1. Wheeler, S. (2010). Civil Rights Act of 1866. 2.McNeese, T. (2007). Plessy v. Ferguson : separate but equal. Place of publication not identified: Chelsea House.
    2. The No Child Left Behind Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act a progress report. (2008). Washington, D.C: National Council on Disabilty.
    3. Turnbull Ann, Turnbull Rud, Wehmeyer L. Michael, Shogren A. Karrie. (2016). Exceptional Lives: Special Education in Today's Schools. Pearson. Pgs.(12,26,27,28).