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Rhode Island was the first state to pass a law that required student attendance at school. Compulsory Public Education was not nationwide until 1918. This law did not pertain to students of color or students with disabilities.
This law is essential because it was the first time students were required to attend school. -
Gallaudet University was known as the National Deaf-Mute College. The Columbia Institution of the Deaf and Dumb and Blind opened the college to provide higher education to students who were deaf.
The founding of the college showed that students with disabilities could benefit from elementary and secondary education and higher education and obtain a college degree. -
The Supreme Court case that overturned Plessy v. Ferguson. Public schools could no longer separate students in public schools based on race.
This court case opened the door to inclusion in the classroom. It would not be long before students with disabilities could not be discriminated against in public schools and they would get the same opportunities to public education as non-disabled students. -
The ESEA specifically gave money to the states to improve public education. An amendment to the act in 1966 provided money specifically for special education.
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Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act protects the civil rights of individuals with disabilities from discrimination from federal financial assistance programs.
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This law said that any state that receive money from the federal government must provide equal access to education for children with disabilities. This law was reauthorized in 1986 to include services to children with disabilities from birth.
Students with disabilities could no longer be excluded from the public school system. Districts had to provide specialized instruction to students so they could get a free and appropriate public education. -
This act protects the civil rights of individuals with disabilities. The act extends to all public schools and ensures that students with disabilities have access to all areas of education including non-academic and extra-curricular.
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Reauthorized again, the EHA was renamed to IDEA. This reauthorization focused on the transition to post-secondary life for students with disabilities. The disability categories of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Traumatic Brain Injury were included. Reauthorization in 1997 implemented access to general education curriculum (LRE) and due process for parents to resolve disputes.
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This act reauthorized the ESEA of 1965. It's purpose was to close the achievement gap for disadvantaged students. It was replaced by the Every Student Succeeds Act in 2015.
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This reauthorization aligned with the NCLB Act and IDEA. It focused on early intervention, accountability, and improved outcomes, and raised the standards for instructors who teach special education classes. There were many revisions to the regulations in 2000(s) and 2010(s) to clarify the "implementation and interpretation" of the IDEA.