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Brown vs. Board of Education
This landmark case was a great victory for the Civil Rights Movement. The U.S. Supreme Court decided that it was unconstitutional to segregate public schools by race. This decision would later on provide the foundation for children with disabilities to receive equal educational opportunities. -
PARC vs. Penn
The Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children called for a lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania because they argued that students with intellectual disabilities were being denied access to public education because the state was delaying or ignoring the students' constitutional right to receive a public education. A consent agreement was given which stated that children with intellectual disabilities between the ages of 6 and 21 years must be provided with free public education. -
Mills vs. Board of Education
This lawsuit was filed against the District of Columbia's Board of Education brought on by the parents and guardians of 7 students who presented behavioral, physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. The students were being denied or excluded from public education without due process of law. The court ordered the District to provide public education to all students with disabilities, and to provide due process safeguards. -
Rehabilitation Act - Section 504
On September 26, 1973, President Nixon signed Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act into law, becoming the first disability Civil Rights law to be enacted in the U.S. The main purpose of Section 504 was to "prohibit discrimination against a person with a disability by any agency receiving federal funds." The agencies are required to provide accommodations, compliance, and assistance to individuals with disabilities. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
President Gerald Ford signed EAHCA into law on November 29, 1975. EAHCA required that "qualified students with disabilities had the right to (a) non-discriminatory testing, evaluation, and placement procedures; (b) be educated in the least restrictive environment; (c) procedural due process,including parent involvement; (d) a free education; and (e) an appropriate education." An Individualized Education Program, the centerpiece of EAHCA, must be developed for every student in special education. -
IDEA Law
In 1990, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act made amendments to the law which then changed the name to Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA provided more focus on students with disabilities, and transition services from high school to adult living. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
The ADA is a Civil Rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all aspects of life, such as schools, jobs, transportation, and other public places. The purpose of the law is to provide individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to public services like everyone else. -
IDEA Reauthorization
IDEA amendments of 1997 emphasized IEP as a primary tool for educational planning, inclusion of parents in decision-making, and strengthened access for students with disabilities to receive services in a general education setting. -
No Child Left Behind Act
The NCLB Act is a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act signed by President George W. Bush. This federal law aimed to close student achievement gaps by providing all children with an equal opportunity to obtain an education. States are required to test students in reading and math in grades 3-8 and once in high school. All students, including English-language learners, Special Education students, and poor and minority students were expected to score proficient. -
IDEIA Law
In 2004, IDEA was changed to Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA). Some of the major changes included: 1) all special education teachers must be certified in special education; 2) IEPs must contain measurable annual goals and a report of the student's progress; and 3) schools may use a scientific research-based intervention to evaluate if a child has a specific learning disability. -
Every Student Succeeds Act
The ESSA was signed by President Obama on December 10, 2015. This law replaced the No Child Left Behind Act. Each state has flexibility in developing their educational goals and standards for schools but must be approved by the Department of Education. Students must be tested, but the number and kinds of tests depends on the grade level of the student. Parents can get involved in the accountability process of the schools.
