-
Rhode Island is the first state to pass a law mandating compulsory education. All children are required by law to receive this education and states are required to provide it.
-
The first advocacy group, Council for Exceptional Children, is established. Today it is one of the largest special education advocacy groups.
This group ensures that children with special needs receive FAPE, Free Appropriate Public Education. -
The landmark ruling of Brown v. Board of Education overturned the ruling of Plessy v. Ferguson, and was the beginning of desegregating the public schools.
The case brought attention to not only the black v. white schools, but also the special needs students v. general education students. -
The ruling of PARC v. Pennsylvania sided with the plaintiffs in that the students with special needs were not receiving a publicly supported education, thereby violating the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment.
The ruling led to students with disabilities to begin receiving education in public schools instead of institutions or special education schools. -
It was ruled that students cannot be excluded from school without due process of law, and mandated that all children, regardless of disability, receive a publicly supported education.
The ruling of this case also clearly outlined the due process procedures. -
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act protects students and people with disabilities from discrimination.
It not only protects students from discrimination, but also includes FAPE and LRE. -
The EAHCA mandated that qualified students with disabilities had the right to nondiscriminatory testing, evaluation, and placement procedures; LRE; due process, including parental involvement; and FAPE. It also featured the Individualized Education Program (IEP).
The EAHCA also made sure that all students with disabilities receive public education. -
This act gives people with special needs the same rights as everyone else, at both school and work. It also states that they cannot be discriminated against in schools, workplaces, and everyday society.
ADA protects people with special needs from discrimination and offers them the same rights as everyone else. -
In addition to renaming the EAHCA, the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) included some major changes, such as changing the terms handicapped student to child/student/individual with a disability; autism and TBI were identified as separate, distinct classes; and a plan for transition was required in each student's IEP.
More emphasis was placed on the individual person and really focused on the 6 different areas covered by the law. -
The reauthorization of IDEA brought several changes and updates, including changes to IEPs, due process, and student discipline.
This is the most current version of the law that we use today.