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Special Education Law Timeline 1954-present
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Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483
The Brown vs. Board of Education was a Civil Rights case ending segregation. This is the first event that laid a foundation for the later 1975 federal law IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities ACT) requiring access to a free and appropriate public education for all children with disabilities. -
President’s Panel on Mental Retardation
The President's Panel on Mental Retardation was appointed by President Kennedy on October 17, 1961, with the mandate to prepare a "National Plan to Combat Mental Retardation." On October 16, 1962, the Panel presented in its report to the President* recommendations concerning research and manpower, treatment and care, education and preparation for employment, legal protection and development of federal, state and local programs. -
PARC vs. Pennsylvania
In 1971, we brought the seminal lawsuit Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the first right-to-education suit in the country, to overturn that Pennsylvania law and secure a quality education for all children. -
Mills v. Board of Education of District of Columbia
This civil action was brought to the Federal US District Court by families of seven children with special needs. These children were denies an education because their school said they could not Fulfill their special needs or cover all the expenses that would be needed to educate the students. The case established that "all children are entitled to free public education and training appropriate to their learning capacities". -
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as Amended (Rehab Act) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by federal agencies, in programs receiving federal financial assistance, in federal employment and in the employment practices of federal contractors. -
FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 is a United States federal law that governs the access to educational information and records by public entities such as potential employers, publicly funded educational institutions, and foreign governments. -
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act 94-142
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act or PL 94-142 was an important step for Special Education Reform. This act required all public schools accepting federal funds to provide equal access to education and one free meal a day for children with physical and mental disabilities. -
Handicapped Children’s Protection Act
Amends the Education of the Handicapped Act (the Act) to allow the court, in its discretion, to award a reasonable attorneys' fee as part of the costs to a parent or legal representative of a handicapped child or youth who is the prevailing party in any action or proceeding brought under specified civil action provisions of the Act. -
Public Law 101-476
Public Law 101-476 called for changes to EAHCA by adding traumatic brain injury and autism as new disability categories. Additionally, mandates placed individual transition plans (ITP) as part of a student's IEP to help students transition to post-secondary life. -
The American with Disabilities Act of 1990
The ADA was an Act to establish a clear and comprehensive prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability. Disability is defined by the ADA as "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity." -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is a piece of American legislation that ensures students with a disability are provided with a Free Appropriate Public Education that is tailored to their individual needs. IDEA was previously known as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act from 1975 to 1990. -
No Child Left Behind Act
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) was the main law for K–12 general education in the United States from 2002–2015. The law held schools accountable for how kids learned and achieved. The law was controversial in part because it penalized schools that didn't show improvement. -
IDEA 2004
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 is a United States law that mandates equity, accountability, and excellence in education for children with disabilities. Provided an outline of the benefits and services available to charge our disabilities and rolled by their parents and private schools when FAPE is not an issue. -
Every Student Succeeds Act
In response to complaints from state and school districts, Congress removed portions of the IDEA law about accountability, including requirements for a highly qualified teacher. It reduced standardized tests and eliminated one-size-fits-all mandates. Additionally, it ensured schools would prepare all students to graduate from high school ready for college and careers and access state pre-school programs.