-
Beattie v. Board of Education
Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled against Beattie stating that students could be excluded from school based on disability. Merritt Beattie, a student with speech difficulty, paralysis, and drooling problems was expelled because “school officials claimed that this condition nauseated the teachers and other students, required too much time, and negatively affected school discipline and progress” (Griffen, 2017, p. 11). The school tried to force him to transfer to a school for the deaf. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Oliver Brown and other parents from four states argued that their children were being deprived of an equal education. According to “KU” (2017), “The U.S. Supreme Court decided in the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka case that it was unconstitutional for educational institutions to segregate children by race. This landmark legal ruling would have far-reaching implications for special education arena” (para. 5). This case was encouraging to parents of children with a disability. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
The act was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Congress enacted the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in 1965 to address the inequality of educational opportunity for underprivileged children (Klein, 2015). This groundbreaking legislation delivered resources to benefit disadvantaged students and ensure they had access to quality education. -
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) v. Commonwealth of Pennsylavania
Students with learning and intellectual disabilities in state-run institutions were pleased in the ruling from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. According to “KU” (2017), “PARC v. Penn called for students with disabilities to be placed in publicly funded school settings that met their individual educational needs, based on a proper and thorough evaluation” (para. 7). The court ruled in the student's favor. -
Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia students classified as “exceptional” "meaning they either had behavioral problems, were mentally handicapped, emotionally disturbed or hyperactive, have a mental or learning disability or behavioral issues" were denied admission to public schools or periodic review of their status (“KU”, 2017, para 8). This ruling made it unlawful for the D.C. Board of Education to deny these individuals access to publicly funded educational opportunities. -
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94-142)
The act was signed by President Gerald Ford. According to “KU” (2017), “This law required all states that accepted money from the federal government were required to provide equal access to education for children with disabilities, in addition to providing them with one free meal per day” (para. 10). Each state was responsible for ensuring their public school systems were in compliance under the law. -
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act Amendment (Public Law 99-457)
This amendment mandated that each state be required to provide services and support from birth to families with children who were born with a disability. Subsequently, the families were not authorized services until the child reached three years old ("KU", 2017). -
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA)(Public Law 94-142)
Public Law 101-476 called for significant changes to Public Law 94-142. According to “KU” (20174), “Traumatic brain injury and autism were added as new disability categories. Additionally, Congress mandated that as a part of a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), an individual transition plan (ITP) must be developed to help the student transition to post-secondary life” (para. 13). -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The act was signed by President George H. W. Bush. ADA is a “legislation that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in employment, education, transportation and other public accommodations” (“Austism Votes”, 2017, para. 1). ADA was the beginning to a promising future for those diagnosed with having a disability. All individuals will be granted rights regardless of their mental or physical disability. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Amendment
The act was signed by President Bill Clinton and he "reauthorized IDEA with several key amendments that emphasized providing all students with access to the same curriculum, additionally, states were given the authority to expand the “developmental delay” definition from birth through five years of age to also include students between the ages of six and nine” (“KU”, 2017,para. 14). IDEA was previously known as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) from 1975 to 1990. -
No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
NCLB was signed into law by President George. W. Bush. ESEA of 1965 was reauthorized as NCLB of 2002 (Klein, 2015). According to “U.S. Department of Education” (n.d.), “NCLB represented a significant step forward for our nation’s children in many respects, particularly as it shined a light on where students were making progress and where they needed additional support, regardless of race, income, zip code, disability, home language, or background” (para. 4). -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004
IDEA 2004 evolved from the EHA of 195. It's first purpose is to provide children with unique needs an education that will prepare them for employment, independent living, and future educational opportunities. The second purpose is protect the rights of children with disabilities and their parents. Under the reauthorized IDEA, school districts can spend up to 15 percent of their federal special education funds on early-intervention programs before students end up in special ed (Samuels, 2004). -
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
The act was signed by President Barrack H. Obama. ESEA of 1965 was reauthorized and replaced NCLB of 2002 as ESSA Act of 2015.
According to Klein (2015), “Congress passed the Every Student Succeeds Act to replace NCLB” (para. 3). This bipartisan measure reauthorizes the 50-year-old Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the nation’s national education law and longstanding commitment to equal opportunity for all students (“Partners Resource Network”, n.d.). -
Future of Special Education
Communication and greater accessibility to services and resources is needed to adapt to the changing needs of all students and their education. According to Krishnan (2016), “Beneath many behavioral issues and academic disengagements is an issue of communication” (para. 13). Reauthorizing and revisiting existing and past laws and acts will provide students an opportunity to excel and bridge gaps in their education. -
References (1 of 3)
Autism votes. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.autismspeaks.org/advocacy/advocacy-news/autism-speaks-celebrates-25th-anniversary-ada Griffen, A. K. (2017). UKnowledge. Retrieved from http://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1046&context=edsrc_etds Klein, A. (2015, April). No child left behind: An overview. Education Week. Retrieved from http://www.edweek.org/ew/section/multimedia/no-child-left-behind-overview-definition-summary.html -
References (2 of 3)
Krishnan, S. (2016, September). Eileen soon: The future of special education is exciting if we dare to reimagine it. Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sriram-
krishnan2/eileen-soon-the-future-of_b_9646684.html KU. (2017). Retrieved from https://educationonline.ku.edu/community/idea-timeline Partners resource network. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://prntexas.org/every-student-succeeds-act-signed-into-law/ -
References (3 of 3)
Samuels, C. A. (2004, December). President signs reauthorized IDEA. Education Week. Retrieved from http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2004/12/03/15idea_web.html U.S. department of education. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ed.gov/ESEA
