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Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) (1950)
The Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens (PARC) is a non-profit organization formed in 1950 with goals of advancing the interests of citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in Pennsylvania, along with ensuring that people with I/DD get their share and equal resources that is given to all citizens of the state. -
Brown v. Board of Education 1954
Description: In the case of Brown v. Board of Education 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that school segregation by race was not constitutional, even if resources were allotted equally. This was the first time the federal government had advocated for students who experienced inequality and prejudice at school, and it set the path for future legislation for individuals with disabilities. -
Elementary Secondary Education Act (1965)
The Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was passed in 1965. It initiated the role of the federal government in protecting and providing for students from disadvantaged backgrounds so that they would have equal access to the public education system. -
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
A few years ago, children living in the state of Pennsylvania with intellectual disabilities did not have the right to public education. Pennsylvania state law allowed public schools to deny services to children “who have not attained a mental age of five years” by the start of first grade. The first suit in the country overturned the Pennsylvania law and secured quality education for all children including those with mental retardation. -
Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia (1972)
Physically handicapped children were denied educational opportunities because they were handicapped, “exceptional” such as mentally retarded, emotionally disturbed, hyperactive, or had other behavioral problems. The settlement agreed to make changes and the judge ordered that the board must name four class representatives with publicly funded education, provide them with publicly funded education and provide more funding for special education programs and mentors. -
Vocational Rehabilitation Act (1973)
The Rehabilitation Act (VRA) of 1973 is the federal law that approves grants to states for vocational rehabilitation services, support employment, independent living, and client assistance. It defines handicapped persons, appropriate education and prohibits discrimination against students with disabilities in federally funded programs. The Act also prohibits discrimination in the employment of persons with disabilities and in social and health services. -
Board of Education of Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley (1982)
On June 28, 1982, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Education of the Handicapped Act of 1974 (EHA: renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act [IDEA] in 1990), as amended by the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, did not require that the special instruction and supportive services provided under the law by state governments to disabled students be designed to help them achieve their full potential as learners. -
Educational Amendments Act (1974)
The Educational Amendments Act (Public Law 93-380) grants federal funds to states for programming for exceptional learners. It provides the first federal funding of state programs for students who are gifted and talented and it also grants students and families the right of due process in special education placement. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (1975)
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) 1975, was enacted by Congress in 1975. Before EHA, many children were denied access to education and opportunities to learn. In 1970, U.S. schools educated only one in five children with disabilities and many states had laws excluding certain students, including children who were deaf, blind, emotionally disturbed, or had an intellectual disability. -
Education of The Handicapped Act Amendments Of 1986
In 1986, The Education of The Handicapped Act Amendments of 1986 mandated special education services for preschoolers with disabilities and also provided some additional funding for infant and toddler programs. The Act requires states to extend free and appropriate education to children with disabilities from three to five years. It established early intervention programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities from birth to two years. -
Honig v. Doe (1988)
The Supreme Court’s ruling in Honig v. Doe addresses the proper role of educators in the suspension and expulsion of handicapped students, individuals with emotional and/or behavior disorders who have academic and social problems. The court ruled that schools could not expel children for behaviors related to their disability. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (1990)
The landmark law’s name changed to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or IDEA in a 1990 authorization. Since the passage of this Act, significant progress has been made toward meeting major national goals for developing and implementing effective programs and services for early intervention, special education, and related services. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66g6TbJbs2g -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in the private sector and it protects their equal opportunity to employment and public services, accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications. The Act also defines disability to include people with AIDS. -
Cedar Rapids v. Garret F.
Garret was four years old when he was in a motorcycle accident and he required nursing services. When he was in the fifth grade, his mother asked that the school board supply the needed nursing services to which the board refused. On March 3, 1999, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the 1990 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires school boards to provide continuous nursing services to disabled students who need them during the school day at no extra cost to parents. -
No Child Behind Act (2002)
President George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act at Hamilton High School in Hamilton, Ohio, on January 8, 2002. The NCLB law updated the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and significantly ratcheted up the federal role in education. -
Reauthorization of The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act law was last reauthorized in 2004, and the department has periodically issued new or revised regulations to address the implementation and interpretation of the IDEA. -
Winkelman v. Parma City School District (2007)
The controversy surrounding Winkelman’s special education needs to result in a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court. May 21, 2007, the case was a major victory for the special education needs movement in the United States and has great significance because it ensures that children with disabilities have a voice that will be heard by the courts. -
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (2015)
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed by President Obama on Dec.10, 2015, as a commitment to equal opportunity for all students. It provides additional opportunities for schools when students are not making adequate progress. It replaces the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002. Both are bipartisan bills with a focus on improving educational outcomes for all students including students who have traditionally demonstrated low performance academically. https://www.ed.gov/essa?src=rn