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Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
Designed to improve educational opportunities for students attending the poorest schools in the U.S., Title I of the ESEA became the vehicle for providing financial assistance to meet the needs of educationally deprived children. The intent of this legislation was to assist disadvantaged children living in low-income areas by hiring additional educaitonal staff members and purchasing additional classroom equipment. -
Vocational Rehabilitation Act (VRA)
Prohibits discrimination against students with disabilities in federally funded programs and entitles those with disabilities to a free and appropriate education. -
Educational Amendments Act
Granted federal funds to states to establish or continue funding programming for learners who were exceptional. By providing the first federal funding for those students, families were granted the right of due process in special education placement. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA)
Also known as the Mainstreaming Law. It had a dramatic effect on the education of students who are deaf/HH. It defines the term "least restrictive environment" as those classroom settings where chronological peers who are disabled and nondisabled receive their education alongside each other. EAHCA also requires states to provide a free and appropriate public education for children with disabilities between the ages of 5 and 18. Schools are required to develop IEPs for students with disabilites. -
Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments
Amended to include children birth to 5 years. It required that states extend a free and appropriate education for children with disabilites between ages 3 and 5. -
Individuals with Disabilites Education Act (IDEA)
Established "people first language" and extended special education services to include social work, assistive technology, and rehabilitation services. It required states to provide bilingual education programs for students with disbailites and to educate students with disabilites for transition to employment. -
Americans with Disabilites Act (ADA)
Designed to protect those with disabilities against discrimination in the private sector. These individuals would be provided with equal opportunities for employment, public services, accommodations transportation, and telecommunications. -
Individuals with Disabilites Education Act (IDEA)
Schools were required to continue providing services to students with disabilites, including students who were expelled. States were allowed to extend their use of the developmental delay category for students through age 9. It allowed special education staff members to assist general education students when needed. -
No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
Described as "the most significant change in federal legislation of public schools in three decades" by Democrats and Republicans. It contains 4 major provisions: annual testing, academic improvement, report cards, and faculty qualifications. -
Reauthorization of IDEA
Focuses on academic results, early intervention, parental choice, and assessment. -
References
Scheetz, A.N. (2012). Deaf education in the 21st century: Topics and trends. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
