Special Education Law Timeline

By Natanya10

  • 1840s - First Public School Classes for the Deaf

    The first classes for deaf students were established in Hartford, Connecticut, laying the foundation for specialized education.

  • 1896 - First Public School Classes for the Blind

    The first public school classes for blind students were established in Boston, Massachusetts, promoting the inclusion of visually impaired students in public education.

  • 1954 - Brown v. Board of Education

    Due to the Supreme Court's ruling that "separate but equal" schools were illegal, equal educational opportunities were prioritized, and this helped to open the door for students with disabilities to attend public schools.

  • 1965 - Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)

    This act started the federal government's involvement in public education for all students, including those with disabilities, by providing funds for primary and secondary school and emphasizing equitable access to education.

  • 1972 - Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia

    The court established the right to free public education for all children with disabilities by ruling that students with disabilities must receive one regardless of the financial capacity of the school system.

  • 1973 - Rehabilitation Act (Section 504)

    Public schools and other programs receiving federal funding were barred from discriminating against people with disabilities by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

  • 1975 - Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA)

    This historic law, also known as Public Law 94-142, required individualized education programs (IEPs) and least restrictive environments (LRE) in addition to mandating free and adequate public education (FAPE) for all children with disabilities.

  • 1986 - Handicapped Children's Protection Act

    In order to compensate parents of disabled children for their legal expenses incurred in winning a case involving their child's special education needs, this act revised the EHA.

  • 1990 - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

    Significant modifications were made when the EHA was reauthorized and renamed IDEA. These included the addition of autism and traumatic brain injury as disability categories and the need for transition assistance.

  • 1997 - IDEA Amendments

    Better access to the general education curriculum was one of the changes' many benefits. They also reinforced academic expectations and accountability for the education of children with disabilities.

  • 2001 - No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)

    In order to make sure all students, including those with disabilities, meet academic standards, NCLB placed a strong emphasis on accountability and standardized testing.

  • 2004 - IDEA Reauthorization

    The reauthorization gave greater freedom in the creation of IEPs and brought IDEA into compliance with NCLB, with an emphasis on improved educational outcomes and accountability.

  • 2008 - Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA)

    This act changed how students with disabilities are accommodated in schools by defining disability more broadly and outlining the rights of those who live with disabilities.

  • 2015 - Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

    ESSA replaced NCLB and provided more flexibility to states in implementing education standards while maintaining accountability, ensuring that students with disabilities continue to receive high-quality education.

  • 2017 - Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District

    The criteria for educational advantages given to kids with disabilities were raised when the Supreme Court decided that schools had to offer an educational program that was appropriate given the child's circumstances and reasonably calculated to enable the child to make progress.