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Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas
Issue: Educational Segregation
In this court case, segregation of students by race was ruled to be unconstitutional. Children were being deprived of the equal education opportunity. This case was also used to argue that children with disabilities could not be excluded from a public education. -
Diana v. State of Board of Education
Issue: Class Placement
This was an important case since it determined how students were placed in special education classes. This case deemed that schools weren't allowed to place students in special education on the basis of IQ tests since they were culturally biased. The verbal test items needed to be revised in order to accommodate a student's cultural heritage. -
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children v. Commonwealth of Pennslyvania
Issue: Right to Education
States must guarantee a free public education to all children with intellectual disabilities from ages 6-21, regardless of degree of impairment. This also established the right for the parent to have a say in their child's education. The state was also required to locate and serve all children with intellectual disabilities. Overall, this court case made a lot of things possible for children with intellectual disabilities. -
Public Law 94-142 (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or IDEA)
Considered to be one of the most important pieces of federal legislation. This bill was signed into law by President Gerald Ford on November 29, 1975. This bill insured that all handicapped children had access to free appropriate public education that emphasized special education. It also ensured access to specialized related services. This bill would also assess and assure that their would be efforts to educate handicapped children. -
Armstrong v. Kline
Issue: Extended School Year
This court case ensured that students with severe disabilities had access to year-round education. The court found that some children with disabilities would regress significantly during the summer recess so the state should provide funding for year round education instead of the standard 180 days. -
Public Law 101-336 (Americans with Disabilities Act)
President George H. W. Bush signed this bill into law on July 26, 1990. This bill forbade discrimination against people with disabilities in both public and private sectors. The ADA also protects people with cosmetic disfigurements, people who have successfully completed substance abuse programs, and people who have AIDS. The ADA provided so many things to young adults who are transitioning to the adult world and opened many doors for them. -
Oberti v. Board of Education of the Borough of Clementon School District
Issue: Least Restrictive Enviornment
The ruling from this court case made schools place children with disabilities in a general education classroom with the supplementary aids and services needed before considering to move the child into a more segregated classroom. Excluding a child from a general education classroom needs to justification and documentation. -
Public Law 105-17
This law required that students with disabilities participate in state and districtwide assessments. The general educators of a student need to participate in that student's individualized education program. This law provided much more things and rights to students with disabilities under IDEA. -
Forest Grove School District v. T.A.
Issue: Tuition Reimbursement
Parents sought tuition reimbursement after the school district failed to provide the necessary support and education for the child. The Supreme Court found that IDEA authorizes the reimbursement of private special education when a public school fails to provide a free appropriate education to the child. The private school must be appropriate and provide what the child needs. -
Every Student Succeeds Act
President Barack Obama signed this act into law on December 10, 2015. The aim of this act was to preserve the spirit and intent of the No Child Left Behind Act while remediating some its flaws. What this meant to children with disabilities is that legislation would ensure access to general education curriculum, accommodations on assessments, and the provide the use of universal design for learning principles.
