Special Education Timeline

  • Beattie v. Board of Education

    Beattie v. Board of Education
    Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court. The court ruled that U.S. state laws regarding racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. Including the segregated schools that otherwise were equal in quality. This marks the beginning of changes throughout the school systems that will be pivotal to Special Education. (US Department of the Interior)
  • Elementary and Secondary Education Act Amendments of 1966

    Elementary and Secondary Education Act Amendments of 1966
    Established the first federal grant program for education with children and youth with disabilities at a local school rather than a state-operated school or institution.
  • Mills v. Board of Education of District of Columbia

    Mills v. Board of Education of District of Columbia
    This a lawsuit that was brought on behalf of several children who resided in the District of Columbia. The students had been identified as having "behavioral problems or being mentally retarded, and/or hyperactive. These students had been excluded from school or denied educational services" (Law Justia). It was argued that the failure of the school board in the District of Columbia to provide them with an education was denying their right to an education.
  • Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (PARC)

    Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (PARC)
    This lawsuit claimed that by refusing to serve their children with severe disabilities the state of Pennsylvania was violating their 14th amendment rights to due process and equal protection under the law. The court decided that children with disabilities were being denied access to an education this denial was a violation of the 14th amendment. The PARC case established several important ideas that were to form the basis of the EHA.
  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

    Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
    "No individual with a disability in the United States, can by reason of their disability, be excluded from the participation or be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. This is to include public schools" (United States Department of Labor).
  • FERPA privacy Act

    FERPA privacy Act
    Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. This law gives parents certain rights to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when they reach the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level.
  • Education for All Handicapped Children Act

    This act made sure that all students with disabilities are educated in public schools. EAHCA included providing free educations, special education for children 3-21, supplemental services, due process, zero reject, and least restrictive environment.
  • Least Restrictive Environment

    Least Restrictive Environment
    Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) means that with a student’s IEP, they must also be in as many regular education classes as possible. This ensures that the student has social experiences. In LRE classrooms paras and aids are usually required.
  • IDEA

    IDEA
    The individuals with disabilities Education Act was also signed into law by George W. Bush. The IDEA amendment was made to align with the No Child Left Behind Act to ensure equity, accountability, and excellence in education for children with disabilities.
  • Every Student succeed Act-ESSA

    Every Student succeed Act-ESSA
    A reauthorization of the ESEA signed by President Obama this act shines a light on where students make progress and where they needed additional support, regardless of race, income, disability, home language, or background. (US Department of Education)
  • No Child Left Behind Act

    No Child Left Behind Act
    No Child Left Behind was signed into law by President George W. Bush. This act supports standard-based educational reform. States develop their own basic skills assessments. Most students with disabilities are also to take standardized tests of academic achievement and achieve at a level equal to students without disabilities. Klein, A. (2023). Retrieved from https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/no-child-left-behind-an-overview/2015/04