History of Special Education

  • Brown vs. Board of Education

    Segregation violed the equal education opportunity under the basis of race. This helped people understand that regardless of race, gender, or disability, everyone has a right to public education. Integration was introduced to public schools!
  • John F. Kennedy's "National Plan to Combat Mental Retardation"

    Asked Congress for support for new resources to address the needs of people with mental retardation and illnesses.
  • John F. Kennedy's Bills Become Law

    The Maternal and Child Health and Mental Retardation Planning Act to provide funding for support programs and building for people with mental retardation became a law.
  • Mental Retardation Facilities Construction Act of 1963

    Authorized federal support for construction of research centers, facilities, and community service facilities for children and adults with mental retardation.
  • The Civil Rights Act of 1964

    Outlawed major forms of discrimination towards African American and women.
  • The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 creating a Bureau of Education for the Handicapped (this bureau today is called the Office of Special Education Programs or OSEP).

    Provided a comprehensive plan that would readdress the inequality of educational opportunity for people who had economically underpriviledged children.
  • The Elementary and Secondary Education Amendments

    Amended the Title VI of P.L. 89-10 and established a federal grant program for education for students at the local school level with disabilities. It established the Bureau of Education of the Handicapped (BEH) and the National Advisory Council (now called the National Council on Disability).
  • Elementary and Secondary Education Act Amendments

    Created a set of programs that supplemented and supported expansion and improvement of special education services. This amendment also included the Bilingual Education Act (or Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act). Provided bilingual education programs. Expanded the instructional media program.
  • The Developmental Disabilities Services and Facilities Construction Amendments

    Plan and implement a comprehensive program of services for people who have a developmental disability. Provided additional grants to support interdisciplinary training for institutions of high education for personnel who provide services to people with developmental disabilities.
  • PARC v. Pennsylvania

    Established the right of children with mental retardation to a public education in the state of PA. This case established a plan for each child to be offered an educational appropriate based on his or her learning capacity. Also, to establish a clear preference for a least restrictive placement for each child. The state agreed to provide full access to a free public education for children with mental retardation up to the age of 21.
  • Mills v. D.C. Board of Education

    This case argued that students with disabilities should be given a public education and financial limits should not be an important factor to consider. It helped provide insight that children's needs should be considered. The district admitted that approximately 12,340 children with disabilities would not be served due to budget constraints.
  • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

    Parents have access to all personally identifiable information collected, maintained, or used by the school district regarding their child.
  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

    Any state that received federal financial assistance must end discrimination in offering services to children with disabilities.
  • The Education Amendments

    Created the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1974 to encourage an appropriate education for children with disabilities and the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act to give parents the right to examine their child's records.
  • The Community Services Act

    10% of children enrolled in the Head Start program must be children with disabilities.
  • The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act

    Created a "bill of rights" for people with developmental disabilities, funded services, created a new funding authority for university affiliated facilities, and created a system of protection and advocacy organizations for each state.
  • Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA). Now known as Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

    Designed to mandate a free appropriate public education for all children with disabilities in a state. All students must have an individual educational plan (IEP), a free appropriate public education, and served in a least restrictive environment.
  • Final federal regulations of EAHCA are released

    Final details and regulations of EAHCA are released, which provide a set of rules that school districts have to follow when providing an education for students with disabilities.
  • Howard S. v. Friendswood Independent School District

    A student with learning disabilities was discriminated against and was not allowed to have accommodations. The school was forced to accomodate the student and pay costs for programs. Many argued that Section 504 dealt with only the physical barriers to accessibility so it failed to understand that learning disabilities were also covered.
  • Board of Education of Hendrick Hudson Central School District vs. Rowley

    First special education in the U.S. Court claimed that students who qualify for special education services should have access to public school programs to meet their needs. Programs should be supported by services to encourage students to benefit from the instruction.
  • Irving Independent School District v. Tatro

    A girl named Amber was denied the accomodation of having someone accompany her to the bathroom for assistance with her catheterisation. The Supreme Court stated "when a service is necessary or the student will otherwise be barred from receiving and appropriate education and the service can be provided by someone with less training than a physician, than the school must provide the service."
  • Education of the Deaf Act

    Title II of the Act extends the statutory authority of the National Training Institute for the Deaf. A Commission on Education of the Deaf was established under Title II that consists of 12 members.
  • Handicapped Children’s Protection Act

    Required the courts to award reasonable attorneys fees to parents who prevail in due process proceedings and court actions found under part B of the Education of the Handicapped Act. The Education of the Handicapped Act does not preempt the existing legislation like the Rehabilitiation Act.
  • Larry P. v. Wilson Riles

    IQ tests cannot be used to determine if African American students should be classified as mentally retarded based on racial and cultural bias. IQ tests cannot be used on these students to test for any disabilities.
  • Larry P. v. Wilson Riles

    Created programs for elementary and secondary education: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Bilingual Education, Math-Science Education, Magnet Schools, Impact Aid, Indian Education, Adult Education, and other smaller education programs.
  • Daniel R.R. v. State Board of Education

    Schools are required to determine if placement in the regular classroom, with supplementary devices/services, would achieve satisfaction. If the student is removed from the regular classroom, the school must determine if the children was mainstreamed to the maximum extent.
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

    Prohibits, under certain circumstances, the discrimination based on disability. Disability is defined as "a physical or mental impairment that substatially limits a major life activity," under this law. Based on the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

    Previously known as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, which governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to children with disabilities. The needs of children with disabilities from birth to 18 or 21 are addressed.
  • Doe v. Withers

    Teachers must exhibit good faith efforts by trying to accomodate a student's Individual Learning Plan and provide required accommodations for the student with a disability when necessary.
  • IDEA reauthorized

    It was an opportunity to review, strengthen, and improve IDEA to help children with disabilities achieve a quality education. Teachers are required to be part of the IEP team. Parents and teachers need to be actively involved in the education. Congress sought to achieve this by: strengthening the role of parents; ensuring access to the general curriculum and reforms; focusing on teaching and learning while reducing unnecessary paper work requirements; etc.
  • Commission on Excellence in Special Education

    Collect information and study issues related to special education programs in Federal, State, and local in order to recommend policies for improving education for students with disabilities.
  • No Child Left Behind Act

    Requires states to develop assessments in basic skills to be given to students in certain grades. Standards are set by each individual state. All students must be proficient in math and reading by the year of 2014.
  • IDEA reauthorized

    Clarifies Congress’ intended outcome for each child with a disability: students must be provided a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) that prepares them for further education, employment, and independent living. Services and education must be designed to meet the needs of children with disabilities. Instruction and intervention for students is encouraged to keep children our of special education.
  • Arlington Central School District Board of Education v. Murphy

    School board is required to pay for private schooling for students with disabilities in order to be in accordance with IDEA.
  • American with Disabilities Act Amendments

    Revised the definition of "disability" to encompass impairments that substantially limit a major life activity.
  • Obama's Blueprint for Education

    The Obama administration administration announced its blueprint for revising ESEA. The Department of Ed stated “The blueprint challenges the nation to embrace education standards that would put America on a path to global leadership. It provides incentives for states to adopt academic standards that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace, and create accountability systems that measure student growth toward meeting the goal that all children graduate and succeed in college."
  • More Assistive Technology for Special Education Students

    Technology is being created to accomodate students with disabilities to communicate effectively in the classroom.