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Beginning of Public Education
On April 23, 1635, Boston Latin School, in Boston, Massachusetts, became the first public school in America.
-Boys-only school
-Strictly for college preparation – only grades 6-12
-Became coeducational in 1972
-Still fully functioning with grades 7-12 -
Beginning of Special Education
On April 15, 1817 in Hartford, Connecticut, the first special education school became established, called the Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb Persons.
-Opened with seven pupils
-Now called the American School for the Deaf -
First Classes for Children with Mobility Impairments
These first appeared in Chicago in 1899 and in New York in 1906. -
First Public School Class for the Blind
This occurred in Chicago in 1900, and then expanded to 16 cities by 1922 -
Classes for Children with Partial Blindness
These began in 1913 in Boston. They were called 'sight-saving' classes. By 1928, there were 319 of these classes in the US. -
Programs of African American students
When public day classes were increasing for the blind and deaf children, there were none available for African American children. Although, 13 states had a state school for only blind African Americans, and 11 states had state schools for only deaf African Americans. -
Public Institutions for Special Education
By 1925, there were 48 state institutions and eight private institutions for the blind. There were also 61 state schools for the deaf. All but nine states operated residential state facilities for the 'feeble-minded'. -
Brown v. Board of Education
The Brown v. Board case challenged the racial segregation of schools . The final decision was that segregation in schools was unconstitutional and violated the 14th Amendment. Following this case, many parents of children with disabilities questioned why their children could still not attend schools. The Brown v. Board of Education gave parents of children with disabilities a platform and reason as to why their children are no different and still deserve the same education as everyone else. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
Goal: to improve educational equity for students from lower-income families by providing federal funds to school districts serving poor students. States and districts must prove they are working to meet needs and providing a quality education to all students. Has been reauthorized eight times since established. This case allows students in SPED to still receive the proper education, despite their financial status. Schools must also be working to meet their needs to receive funding. -
PARC v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) filed on behalf of 14 children with disabilities who were denied public education. There was a state law that allowed schools to exclude children who had not reached a "mental age of five years" by the time they should enroll in 1st grade, but this violated the 14th Amendment. The decision was made that any child up to age 21 could not be denied for appropriate programs. This case meant that SPED was available for children who needed it. -
Mills v. Board of Education
Seven children were denied public education because of alleged disabilities. The 14th Amendment supported the case. The school system said they had a lack of finances. The Court decided that no child could be denied a public education because of handicaps or deficiencies, and finances could not be an excuse. This case meant that SPED students could not be denied because of the school's financial status, or due to their handicap/deficiency. It meant all students had a right to public education. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
Purposes:
1."To assure that all children with disabilities have available to them…a free appropriate public education which emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs"
2."To assure that the rights of children with disabilities and their parents…are protected"
3. "to assist States and localities to provide for the education of all children with disabilities"
4. "to assess and assure the effectiveness of efforts to educate all children with disabilities" -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
In 1997, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 became enacted as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Children with disabilities get a free appropriate public education in their least restrictive environment, as well as an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
-Birth-age 2: early intervention services
-age 3-21: special education
Similarities to NCLB (continued on NCLB slide): both receive federal funding, focus on students with disabilities, require progress reports -
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
Passed in 2002, all schools were required to meet yearly progress goals that eventually had 100 percent of kids on grade level by 2014, in order for the federal government to guarantee the quality of public education for all children. If schools failed to meet their yearly goal, the penalty was severe and hurt financially struggling schools. This act is a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
Similarities to IDEA: lest restrictive environment, high expectations -
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
ESSA is a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 that improved the No Child Left Behind Act. ESSA gives schools more flexibility in setting their own goals and consequences. It also focuses more on academic growth, instead of being on grade level. States can also use other national standardized tests to replace their statewide ones. -
Prediciton
I think SPED will be far more advanced in 20 years. I think almost all, if not all, SPED students will be in a regular classroom for most of their school days. Technology will be more advanced, which will allow for advancements in the classroom. Based on history, there could be another Supreme Court case in the next 20 years. I also think students not in SPED could potentially suffer from having many SPED students in the same classroom, due to being on different levels. -
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