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Brown v. Board of Education
Landmark 1954 Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. This paved the way for greater equality and inclusion of students with disabilities in public education. -
Mills v. Board of Education & PARC v. Pennsylvania
Mills v. Board of Education and PARC v. Pennsylvania were landmark court cases establishing the right to free public education for students with disabilities, paving the way for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
Commonly known as Public Law 94-142. Landmark legislation that guaranteed a free, appropriate public education to children with disabilities, laying the foundation for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. -
Board of Education of Hendrick Hudson v. Rowley
Hudson v. Rowley (1982) was a landmark Supreme Court case that interpreted the law to require schools to provide an individualized program that confers meaningful educational benefit, not maximize student potential. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Landmark federal legislation that guarantees students with disabilities the right to a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment, revolutionizing access to special education services. -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Federal law that extended civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities, prohibiting discrimination and requiring reasonable accommodations in education and other areas of public life. -
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
Federal law emphasizing accountability and standardized testing for all students, including those with disabilities, aiming to improve their academic achievement but proving controversial in its effect on special education. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act
Reauthorized the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, maintaining protections for students with disabilities while emphasizing accountability, qualified teachers, and research-based instruction. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESSA)
Provides federal funds to improve education for disadvantaged students, including students with disabilities, emphasizing access, accountability, and evidence-based interventions. -
Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District
Supreme Court case ruling that the IDEA requires an educational program reasonably calculated to enable a child to make appropriate progress, raising the standard for FAPE beyond merely "more than de minimis" benefit.