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Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) helped to bring the federal government into the classroom to protect and provide for students who were from disadvantaged backgrounds. It gave these students equal access to public education. ESEA also provided grants to help states create and improve the programs for those students with disabilities. -
Vocational Rehabilitation Act (VRA)
The Vocational Rehabilitation Act gives those with diabilities more opportunities in the workplace, community service, and further education. It prevents private organizations that receive money from the federal government from discriminating against those people with disabilities. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA)
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act requires states to provide appropriate public education for children (age 5 to 18) with disabilities. Students with disabilities are given individualized education programs (IEPs). This act was first defined as the least restrictive environment. -
Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments
The Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments requires states to extended free and appropriate public education to younger children (ages 3 to 5) with disabilities. It also pushes for early intervention for infants and toddlers. -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act gives those with disabilities equal opportunities to employment, public services, accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications. It also changes the definition of disibility to include AIDS. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act renamed and replaced the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. It also expanded to include the disabilities of autism and traumatic brain injury. The IDEA began using "people-first" language. IDEA also extends its services so that social work, assistive technology, and rehabilitation services are included. It also now includes confidentiality for students and families. The act provides transportation and bilingual programs. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
IDEA brings in the requirement for those students with disabilities to receive services, even if they've been expelled. Schools are to take greater responsibility of the general education of students with disabilities by brining in special education staff to the general education classroom, bringing general education teachers onto the IEP teams, and having students take part in state- and district-wide assessments. Mediation is an option for parents and educators. Attourney fees are limited. -
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
The No Child Left Behind Act increases the accountability of the school, district, and state for all students. It gives students who are attending failing schools the opportunity to change schools. NCLB brings in early reading interventions. It also gives flexibility in the use of federal funds as long as the standards are being met. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act allows school districts to use a response-to-intervention (RTI) model for determining learning disabilities and increases the federal funds to help provide early intervention services. It also eliminates the short-term objectectives in an IEP for students. The standards for the special education licensure have been raised.
