-
American School for the Deaf
American School for the Deaf was the first special education school in America. It was founded April 15, 1817, in West Hartford, Connecticut, by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, Dr. Mason Cogswell, and Laurent Clerc. It became a state-supported school later that year -
Perkins Institution for the Blind opened
Perkins School for the Blind, in Watertown, Massachusetts, is the oldest school for the blind in the United States.Perkins manufactures its own Perkins Brailler, which is used to print embossed, tactile books for the blind. Founded in 1829, Perkins was the first school for the blind established in the United States. -
Law Mandating Compulsory Education Passed
Rhode Island was the first state to have compulsory education. Compulsory education refers to a period of educational attendance required of all students. Rhode Island law requires children between the ages of six and 16 to attend school, with the exception of certain physical or mental conditions that may render this impractical or where the child is barred by a law or regulation. -
Columbia Institution Grants College Degrees
Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and Blind, now known as Gallaudet University was allowed to grant college degrees by the in 1864. Congress provided approval for Columbia to grant college degrees, and an enabling act for the college was passed and approved by President Lincoln.It was the first college in the world established for people with disabilities. -
Beattie v. Board of Education
Special needs student was expelled from school due to facial abnormalities and drooling. The student had a condition that caused drooling and facial contortions. Teachers found the student's presence in class "nauseating". The courts agreed with school officials that argued the student required too much time of the teacher and caused disruptions to the learning environment -
Council for Exceptional Children
The Council for Exceptional Children is the first advocacy group for children with disabilities.The CEC is one of the largest special education advocacy groups. The main objective of this group is to ensure that children with special needs receive Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). -
Brown v. Board of Education
The Brown v. Board case is a landmark court case that overturned Plessy v. Ferguson case saying that “Separate is not equal”. This court case brought attention to black v. white’s in school and special need students v. general education students. This case encouraged the formation of many advocacy groups to inform the public of need of special education programs. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act did not make it law to educate students with disabilities but gave grants to state school institutions that put into place programs to educate students with disabilities.
The act provides federal funding to primary and secondary education, with funds authorized for professional development, instructional materials, resources to support educational programs, and parental involvement promotion. -
Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Colombia
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia students classified as “Exceptional”. This included those with mental and learning disabilities and behavioral issues. This ruling made it unlawful for the D.C. Board of Education to deny these individuals access to publicly funded educational opportunity. -
Section 504 Established
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act allows protection from discrimination of special needs and disabilities. This law was considered the first law giving protection to students with special needs. Students are included when they have either a physical or mental disability that inhibits their learning experience. For additional information on Section 504:
https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/special-services/504-plan/understanding-504-plans -
Least Restrictive Environment
Least Restrictive Environment meant that a student with an IEP must also be regular education classes.This ensured and encouraged that the student has social experiences. In LRE classrooms shadows and aids are usually accompanying students. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act Established
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act made sure that all students with disabilities are educated in public schools.This act also required all public schools accepting federal funds to provide equal access to education and one free meal a day for children with physical and mental disabilities. -
Handicapped Children’s Protection Act Passed
The Handicapped Children’s Protection Act was signed by Ronald Regan. The Handicapped Children’s Protection Act was a law that gave parents of children with disabilities more say in the development of their child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP). -
The individuals with disabilities Education Act Passed
The individuals with disabilities Education Act was signed into law by George W. Bush. The act is a four-part (A-D) piece of American legislation that ensures each student with a disability is provided with Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) that is tailored to their individual needs in the least restrictive environment (LRE). -
Americans with Disabilities Act Passed
The Americans with Disabilities Act states people with special needs have the same rights as everybody else.The act states that people with special needs cannot be discriminated against in school, jobs, and everyday society such as public transportation. The act was signed into law by President George W. Bush. With the act signed schools were encouraged to be all inclusive within classrooms and extracurricular activities. -
No Child Left Behind Act Passed
No Child Left Behind was signed into law by President George W. Bush. This law states that all students should be proficient in math and reading. The No Child Left Behind Act authorizes federal education programs that are administered by the states. Under the No Child Left Behind Act, states are required to test students in reading and math in grades 3–8 and once in high school.
Video explainging NCLB:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0--2nhsDorg
