History of Special Education

Civil Rights Act

Apr 9, 1866

All citizens have rights.
And they could not be discriminated based on race or color.

Plessy vs Ferguson

May 18, 1896

This case stated that seperate but equal was constitutional.
So children with disabilities could be seperated from the general student population.

Brown vs. Board of Education

May 17, 1954

The Board of Education in Topeka ruled that for African Americans and Caucasian children were not to be separated into different schools because its was unconstitutional and it made the students unequal.
Led to the Civil Rights Movement.

PARC vs Pennsylvania

Jan 1, 1972

This case ruled that several state laws were unconstitutional for allowing the exclusion of children with disabilities in public schools. Previous to PARC vs Pennsylvania & Mills vs Board of Education, children with disabilites were regularly denied public education.

Mills vs. Board of Education

Aug 1, 1972

This case ruled that public schools in the District of Columbia could not segregate or exclude children with disabilities. This case also called for free, accessible and suitable education no matter the disabilities.

The Education of All Handicapped Children Act

Nov 30, 1975

This act required free, appropriate public education that is set in the student's least restrictive environment (LRE). This Act then lead to "The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act".

Americans with Disabilities Act

Jul 26, 1990

This act gave people with disabilities protection against discrimination.
It also requires reasonable accessibility accommodations in public buildings.
For example, public buildings needed wheelchair ramps to accommodate to everyone.
Employees were also required to make accommodations for workers with disabilities.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Oct 30, 1990

This act came from the amendment of "The Education of All Handicapped Children Act"
Provide children with disabilities the same opportunity to learn as children without disabilities.

No Child Left Behind law (NCLB)

Jan 8, 2002

This law wanted all students to be proficient in math and reading by the year 2014.
This law the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which had Title 1.
Title 1 was an aid program that helped students with disadvantages.
All students were required to meet the goals in the timeframe they had. For some students with disabilities, this is impossible.

IDEA 2004 Reauthorization

Jul 1, 2004

The language of this law was made more flexible. Parents were still a huge part of the IEP process.
It added response to intervention & early childhood support.
This reauthorization changed definitions to better understand disabilities.
The timeframe for evaluation went down to 60 days.