History of Special Education

By Julia7990

  • 1950-1960s

    The Federal government begins to develop and validate practices for children with disabilities and their families. The events listed in this timeline helped create effective programs and services for special education across the United States.

  • Training of Professional Personnel Act

    Helped train leaders to educate children with was known as "mental retardation".

  • Handicapped Children’s Early Education Assistance Act

    Supported early childhood programs and increased Head Start enrollment for young children with disabilities.

  • Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia

    The right of every child with a disability to be educated is created as a clause of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

  • Education for All Handicapped Children’s Act

    This law guaranteed a free, appropriate public education to each child with a disability in every state across the country.

  • Board of Education vs Rowley

    The Supreme Court defined “free and appropriate education” (FAPE) and stated that a child with disabilities were entitled to a "reasonably calculated" education. It was the first court decision that suggested there was a limit to resources that children with disabilities could expect.

  • Education of Handicapped Act Amendment of 1983

    Provided financial help for services down to birth

  • Education of Handicapped Act Amendment of 1986

    "Added a grant program to assist states in establishing a comprehensive system of early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families (3-5 years)".

  • Assistive Technology Initiative

    This piece of legislation increased access to, available resources, and funding for assistive technology through state and national initiatives.

  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

    EHA act was changed to IDEA. "IDEA elaborated on the inclusion of children with disabilities into regular classes and also focused on the rights of parents to be involved in the education decisions affecting their children. IDEA required that an Individualized Education Program (IEP) be designed with parental approval to meet the needs of every child with a disability."

  • Americans with Disabilities Act

    "This act ensured the equal treatment for people with disabilities to employment opportunities and to public accommodations. The ADA was intended to prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, services rendered by state and local governments, places of public accommodation, transportation, and telecommunications services".

  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 1991

    Ensuring early intervention services to young children and families

  • IDEA of 1997

    "Authorized comprehensive services for infants and toddlers under Part C and for preschoolers under Part B; LRE for infants and toddlers defined as “natural environment.”

  • No Child Left Behind

    "Increase accountability, school choice and greater flexibility for states, school districts and schools. This law expanded the role of the federal government in education and, while not required, places sanctions and removes funding from schools that do not comply. This act also employed early reading interventions".

  • Response to Intervention

    RTI was created to aid inclusion of those with special needs in the classroom by completing evidence-based assessment.

  • IDEA of 2004

    "Reauthorization of PL 105-17 continuing preschool services under Part B and early intervention services for infants and toddlers under Part C with allowance to continue early intervention services until kindergarten. Assumes preschool services will be provided in inclusive early education classroom unless evidence and rationale for placement in a special education classroom are clearly documented in the IEP."

  • Common Core State Standards

    Addresses achievement in English language arts and mathematics from kindergarten through high school. Created standards per grade level and curriculum that must be met. The CCSS note that students with disabilities are expected to meet the same high standards.

  • Every Student Succeeds Act

    Replaces NCLB Act, states can now choose their own academic standards and can develop their own accountability systems to identify and support struggling schools.

  • Future

    I believe special educational services will continue to grow. Teachers are now becoming more educated in special services to focus on helping each individual student. Differentiated instruction is on the rise, and early intervention is a huge focus during in the earliest stages of a child's education. In the future I would like to see special education and general education teachers work in a co-taught inclusion based model. I believe this can be successful in all schools.

  • Sources

    Ch. 1, "Educating Young Children with Special Needs: The Challenge" Ch. 1, "Introduction to Inclusive Teaching," of The Inclusive Classroom: Strategies for Effective Differentiated Instruction. https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/leg/idea/history.html http://www.ncld-youth.info/index.php?id=61 https://www.thinkinclusive.us/brief-history-special-education/ https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/leg/idea/history.html