A History of Special Education

By bekbek310

  • Brown vs. Board of Education

    Even though the Brown vs. Board of Education decision was not a special education ruling it was important. The ruling said that "separate but equal" was not constitutional.In other words, all children were entitled to an equal education.

  • Elementary and Secondary Education Act

    As part of Lyndon B. Johnson's "War on Poverty" the Elementary and Secondary Education Act was signed in 1965. This act was addressed to the unfair educational opportunities for underprivileged children.

  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

    This law protects the civil rights of persons with disabilities. This applies in various settings and allows accommodations for the persons with disabilities.

  • The Education for All Handicapped Children Act

    The EHC was a huge step in equality for special education law. Under the act it granted FAPE, which is free appropriate public education to all children. This law also changed the amount definitions and information for each disability. The law also covered the "zero reject rule" which later would be proven through different court cases. Basically the act states that no child can be denied education because someone thought they were uneducable.

  • 1986 Ammendments to EHA

    At this time the ammendment extended to children 3-5 with disablities. Early Intervention became a huge step with infants and up. to five. The law also helped focus on Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP)

  • EHA replaced by IDEA

    IDEA stands for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This change came to focus upon the individual instead of the disability. Under the new amendments it would now help students with transition services, as well as extend LRE (least restrictive environment.) Categories of disabilities are also listed under IDEA.

  • IDEA Ammendments of 1997

    Under the ammendments in 1997 general ed teachers are now required to serve on IEP teams. Also, students with disablilites are now taking standaradized testa along with the rest of the schools. States can now add the term "developmentally delayed" to students up to nine years old.

  • Reauthorization of IDEA

    The reauthorization in 2004 was meant to line up with NCLB passed in 2001. One of the largest additions to IDEA in 2004 was based on the teachers. IDEA was now requiring exemplary teachers and staff for children with disabliitles in the classroom. All teachers must be certified in special education. Also, a change for IEP's in that they must now show yearly progress fo the children .