The History of Special Education

Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka

May 17, 1954

This was a legal case that decided that is was unconstituational for schools to segregate students based on race. This lead the way for parents to fight for students with diabilities.

ESEA

Apr 9, 1965

Elementary and Secondary Education Act was signed into law by Lyden Johnson. This required equal access for all.

Pennsylevania Association for Retarded Chirldren (PARC) vs. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Oct 8, 1971

During this court ruling the court sided with students with intellectual and learning disabilities. This ruling required these students to be placed in publicly funded schools.

Mills vs. Board of Education of the District of Columbia

Dec 17, 1971

This required that students with behavioral issues, mental and learning disabilities be classified as exceptional.

New Mexico

1975

In 1975 New Mexico opt out of getting federal funds for The Education of All Handicapped Children Act. They did this to avoid due process regulations.

Public Law 94-142

Nov 29, 1975

The Education for All Handicapped Children Act was signed by President Gerald Ford. This required that all federaly funded schools provide access for all students with disabilities.

Public Law 99-457

Oct 8, 1976

This was an amendment to The Education for All Handicapped Children Act. It required states to provide families of babies with disabilities with services right after birth.

New Mexico

1984

New Mexico finally decided to participate in The Education for All Handicapped Children Act.

Public Law 101-476

Jan 1, 1990

This law made more changes to The Education for All Handicapped Children Act. These changes added Tramatic Brain Injury and Autism as new disability categories.

NCLB

Jan 8, 2002

NCLB stands for No Child Left Behind Act. This was signed into law by President George W. Bush. This required testing to insure progress of students, schools, and teachers. It was supposed to ensure success.

IDEA Reauthorization

Dec 3, 2004

This was signed by President George W. Bush. It added a new term to IDEA. "Highly Qualified", this term was used for elementary and secondary teachers who have gone through prep programs and taken state mandated assessments before getting licensed to teach.