History of Education

  • The first book on Special Education

    Jean Pablo Bonet wrote what is considered to be one of the first books about special education.
  • London inquires about teaching individuals who are deaf and blind.

    The Royal Society of London receives charter, inspires philosophical inquiry into the nature of language and teaching of deaf and blind individuals.
  • Mandated compulsory education

    Rohde Island passes a law mandating compulsory education, education that children are required by law to receive, and for the government to provide.
  • Columbia Institution

    An institution for the deaf, dumb and blind was allowed to grant college degrees. It was the first college in the world established for people with disabilits.
  • Delinquency prevention program

    Students labeled "at-risk" were identified and separated into early special education programs where they were taught "moral training: of African American children.
  • Parent support groups for students with disabilities.

    As early as 1933, parents and community members began creating support groups to better support their students with disabilities.
  • Brown v Board of Education

    The supreme court ruled in favor of Brown eliminating segregation in public schools.
  • Teachers of the Deaf Act

    Provided training for teachers who worked with students who were deaf or hard of hearing.
  • Elementary and Secondary Act

    This Act helped ensure that disadvantaged students had access to a high-quality education.
  • Elementary and Secondary Act Amendment

    This amendment granted money to states to improve and expand education for handicapped children.
  • Education for the Handicaped Acts

    This Act replaced the ESEA and established a new grant program to help states educate handicapped children.
  • 2 Court cases

    Two court cases (PARC and Mills vs. Board of Education DC) Guaranteed the rights of parents in special education. They stated that children in special education could not be expelled or suspended without due process.
  • The Rehabilitation Act

    Providing grants to states for vocational rehabilitation centers for those with disabilities.
  • The Education for All Handicapped Children Act

    The Education for All Handicapped Children Act was put in place.
  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

    IDEA specified the inclusion of students with disabilities into the general education classrooms.
  • Americans with Disabilities Act

    The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed to ensure equal treatment and opportunities for those with disabilities.
  • IDEA reauthorized

    IDEA was reauthorized to emphasize the academic outcomes of students with disabilities and hold them to higher standards.
  • No Child Left Behind

    The Bush Administration put into action the No Child Left Behind Act ensuring accountability for the academic performance of all children.
  • IDEA reauthorized

    IDEA was reauthorized again, Congress emphasized that each student had specific and "unique" needs that need to be addressed by highly qualified teachers.
  • The Elementary and Secondary Act replaced

    The Elementary and Secondary Act (NCLB) was replaced by the Every Student Succeeds Act which specified that only 1% of students can be given alternate standardized tests and encouraged states to get rid of unnecessary testing.
  • Today

    The US Department of Education stated fewer than half of the states were following federal special education law.