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Brown vs. Board of Education
"School children argued that segregated public schools were inherently unequal and deprived them of equal protection. After the decision in Brown, parents of children with disabilities began to bring lawsuits against their school districts for excluding and segregating children with disabilities. The parents argued that, by excluding these children, schools were discriminating against the children because of their disabilities."
http://www.wrightslaw.com/law/art/history.spec.ed.law.htm -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
"Congress enacted the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in 1965 to address the inequality of educational opportunity for underprivileged children. This landmark legislation provided resources to help ensure that disadvantaged students had access to quality education."
Website:
http://www.wrightslaw.com/law/art/history.spec.ed.law.htm -
Congressional Investigation
"Congress launched an investigation into the status of children with disabilities and found that millions of children were not receiving an appropriate education:
Recent statistics provided by the Bureau of Education for the Handicapped estimated that of the more than 8 million children . . . with handicapping conditions requiring special education and related services, only 3.9 million are receiving an appropriate education"
Website http://www.wrightslaw.com/law/art/history.spec.ed.law.htm -
Rehabilitation Act
"This act is a federal law. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, with special emphasis on services to those with the most severe disabilities, to expand special Federal responsibilities and research and training programs with respect to individuals with disabilities, to establish special responsibilities in the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare for coordination of all programs with respect to individuals with disabilities"
Website: http://www.wrightslaw.com/law/art/history.spec.ed.law.htm -
Public Law 94-142: The Education for All Handicapped Children Act
On November 19, 1975, Congress enacted Public Law 94-142, also known as The Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 . Congress intended that all children with disabilities would “have a right to education, and to establish a process by which State and local educational agencies may be held accountable for providing educational services for all handicapped children.”
Website:
http://www.wrightslaw.com/law/art/history.spec.ed.law.htm -
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.
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No Child Left Behind
"The purpose of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 is “to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging State academic achievement standards and state academic assessments.”
Website: http://www.wrightslaw.com/law/art/history.spec.ed.law.htm -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA)
Congress increased the focus on accountability and improved outcomes by emphasizing reading, early intervention, and research-based instruction by requiring that special education teachers be highly qualified. It provides an education that meets a child’s unique needs and prepares the child for further education, employment, and independent living and to protect the rights of both children with disabilities and their parents.
Website: http://www.wrightslaw.com/law/art/history.spec.ed.law.htm
