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Brown vs. Board of Education
This Supreme Court decision ruled that segregation in schools by race was unconstitutional. This decision was important for special education progress because it marked the first time the federal government advocated for students who experienced inequality or prejudice in school. This ruling would serve as a foundation for future legislation baking equality in education specific to student with exceptionalities. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
President Lyndon Johnson signs The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) which marked the federal government taking a role in protecting disadvantaged students from inequality in education. Special education benefited from this act as states were encouraged to create and improve programs for students with disabilities through federal grants. -
Educational Amendments Act
The Educational Amendments Act revised the ESEA increasing and accessibility to federal funds for states to use for exceptional learning programs. This act also gives families the monumental right to due process in special education placement. It also marks the first time state programs receive federal funding for talented and gifted students. -
Education for all Handicapped Children Act
EAHCA is passed and coined the mainstreaming or inclusion law. Students are served together in the inclusive environment of the general classroom regardless of ability. It is found that students with and without exceptionalities both benefit when all are in a classroom together as they would be in the general population outside of a school setting. This law first defines least restrictive environment, language that is an integral part of accommodating learners with exceptionalities today. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) passes replacing EAHCA. Extensions to the original act include additional special education services such as social work, technological aids, rehabilitation, due process assistance, and strengthened confidentiality for families. Autism and traumatic brain injury are added as additional categories of disability. This act also requires transition services for students to enter the world and work force beyond a schooling environment. -
No Child Left Behind Act
Once signed into law, the introduction of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) established far reaching education accountability from school districts and states for all students, including those with special needs. Previous provisions for students with special education needs are measured for effectiveness requiring that 95% of students with disabilities participate in statewide standardized assessments with accommodations as needed. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act
IDEIA encourages schools to utilize the Response to Intervention model (RTI), excludes short-term objectives from IEPs and raises licensure requirements for special education teachers. The RTI process determines the presence of a disability for individual students instead of comparing achievement and abilities focusing more on early interventions. IDEIA ensures that students cannot be rejected from a school if the school felt it was not equipped to address that student’s special needs.
