The History of Special Education

By khecht

  • Brown v. Board of Education

    This U.S. Supreme Court case resulted in the ruling that segregation on the basis of race violated equal educational opportunity. This led to the understanding that all people have a right to public education, regardless of race, gender, or disability.

  • John F. Kennedy's "National Plan to Combat Mental Retardation"

    President J.F. Kennedy formed a panel of experts to develop a "National Plan to Combat Mental Retardation." This resulted in the Maternal and Child Health and Mental Retardation Planning Act, which granted federal aid over five years to support programs for disabled citizens.

  • Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)

    President Lyndon B. Johnson creates the Elementary and Secondary Education Bill.

  • The Civil Rights Act of 1964

    Lyndon B. Johnson, creates legislation that outlawed major forms of discrimination against African Americans and women, including racial segregation, beginning equal rights for all in education.

  • Title VI

    Congress adds Title VI to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. This created the Bureau of Education for the Handicapped (not called the Office of Special Education Programs).

  • ESEA Amendment

    This amendment established a set of programs that supplemented and supported the expansion and improvement of special education services. It also included the Bilingual Education Act (Title VII).

  • The Developmental Disabilities Services and Facilities Construction Amendments

    These amendments made state planning and advisory councils plan and implement a comprehensive program of services for persons with developmental disabilities.

  • PARC v. Pennsylvania

    This case resulted in the state of Pennsylvania providing free public education for children with mental retardation.

  • Mills v. D.C. Board of Education

    Lawsuit that ruled that no child could be denied a public education because of "mental, behavioral, physical, or emotional handicaps or deficiencies." It also noted that insufficient funds could not be an excuse for not providing education.

  • FERPA

    The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is enacted, allowing parents to have access to all personally identifiable information regarding their child that is collected, maintained, or used by the schools.

  • Section 504

    The (Vocational) Rehabilitation Act of 1973 includes Section 504. This national law protects qualified individuals from discrimination based on their disability. This provides help to some students who are not eligible for help under other special education laws, if it negatively affects his/her learning or ability to function in a school setting (i.e. asthma, severe allergies).

  • The Community Services Act

    This act stated that 10% of the children involved in the HEad Start program must be children with disabilities.

  • The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act

    This act listed the rights for individuals with developmental disabilities, as well as funding services, university affiliated facilities, establishing protection and advocacy organizations for individuals within each state.

  • EAHCA

    The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) is enacted. This is now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The EAHCA mandated all school districts to educate students with disabilities.

  • EAHCA Regulations

    The final federal regulations of EAHCA are released and enacted at the start of the 1977-1978 school year, providing school districts a set of rules that they must adhere to when providing and education to students with disabilities.

  • Board of Ed of Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley

    The court ruled that students who qualify for special education services must have access to programs in publics schools that meet their needs.

  • Education of the Deaf Act of 1986

    This Act extends authority of the National Training Institute for the Deaf, which is a resiential facility for postsecondary training and education for individuals who are deaf.

  • EAHCA Amendment

    The EAHCA is amended with the addition of the Handicapped Children's Protection Act, making it clear that students and parents have rihts under EAHCA and Section 504.

  • EAHCA amendment/IDEA

    The EAHCA is amended to be called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This amendment added transition services for students with disabilities and required school districts to look at outcomes and assisting students with disabilities in transitioning from high school to a postsecondary life.

  • Americans with Disabilities Act

    The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is enacted, making 504 Plans more common in school districts. This prohibits discrimination based on disability, defined as "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity."

  • IDEA Reauthorized

    IDEA is amended to allow students with disabilities to be included in on state and district-wide assessments. It also required Regular Education Teachers to be a member of the IEP team.

  • No Child Left Behind of 2001

    Signed in 2002, the No Child Left Behind Act called for all students (including those with disabilities) to be proficient in math and reading by 2014.

  • IDEA reauthorized

    This reauthorization called for more accountability, both at the state and local levels, to have more data on outcomes. School districts must also provide adequate instruction and intervention for students to help keep them out of special education. Students must be provided with a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).

  • American With Disabilities Act Amendments

    These 2008 Amendments revised the definition of disability to include more broadly encompass impairments that substantially limit a major life activity.

  • Special Education Reimbursement

    The Supreme Court ruled that parents of special education students may receieve govornment reimbursement for private school tuition, even if they have never received public school special education services.

  • References

    The History of Special Education in the United States. (2009). Retrieved July 8, 2015, from http://www.specialednews.com/the-history-of-special-education-in-the-united-states.htm Pittman, A. (2012). The History of Special Education. Retrieved July 8, 2015. The Right to Education | Disability Justice. (2015). Retrieved July 8, 2015, from http://disabilityjustice.org/right-to-education/