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Abraham Lincoln signed a bill to create Gallaudet College, which provided a higher education for deaf and hard of hearing students. This forced the federal government to become involved in special education. Four years later in 1869, Boston established the first public school for deaf students. This is the first that we have seen a school with a special education program! -
The Supreme Court ruled that segregating schools by race was not considered constitutional, even if the resources were equally dispersed. Although this act was geared towards racial indifference, it allowed equal public education for all.
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The supreme court of Illinois maintained that the state's compulsory education laws didn't require "free public education for the 'feebleminded' or to children who were 'mentally deficient' and who, because of their limited intelligence were unable to reap the benefits of a good education." -
This act was passed to initiate the role of the federal government in protecting and providing for students from disadvantaged backgrounds so that they could have equal access to the public education system.
For students with disabilities, this was crutial because they created a grant program that encouraged states to create and improve programs for students with disabilities. -
This act was established in 1973 and is important because it defines the phrases "handicapped person" and "appropriate education". These are to be used to that definition when laws are created. Another thing that this act accomplished was that it prohibits discrimination against students with disabilities in federally funded programs.
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The ESEA with grants to encourage states to create and improve programs for students with disabilities was later revised in 1970, as the Education of the Handicapped Act. This act continued support for state-run programs for individuals with disabilities without providing any specific guidelines for how to develop these programs or what they should look like. Once it was passed in 1975, all schools were required all children receive a free and appropriate public education. -
IDEA replaced EAHCA by expanding on its criteria; adding autism and traumatic brain injury into categories of disability, extending resources(social work, assistive technology and rehabilitation services) etc. Established again in 1997, IDEA enacts IEPs to be put in place for students with disabilities but are still placed in gen-ed classrooms.
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Enacted to provide a framework "on how to improve the performance of America's elementary and secondary schools while at the same time ensuring that no child is trapped in a failing school". This act affected school systems by: increased accountability, school choice, and greater flexibility for states, school districts, and schools. -
To expand on IDEA, this act allows school districts to use RTI (response to intervention) models to determine whether or not a child has a learning disability, no longer requiring severe discrepancies to qualify. It also raises standards for special education licensure. The act adopts policies designed to prevent disproportionate representation of students in special education by race and ethnicity. -
Signed by President Obama, this act was a commitment to equal opportunities for all students, replacing the No Child Left Behind Act.