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Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Public Law 89-10
This law is important because it helps low-income families receive an equal public education. It allows low-income families to receive free and reduced lunches, and for students who need additional support. This law is extremely helpful for high poverty areas such as Superior. -
Vocational Rehabilitation Act (VRA) Public Law 93-112, Section 504
This event is important as it defines what a handicapped person is (which after reading the People First Language is inappropriate use of language), and it defines appropriate education for students with disabilities. It prohibits discrimination against students who have disabilities in funded programs. This is important so people are not judging other people who have a disability, by their disability. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) Public Law 94-142, Part B
This event is important because it requires all states to provide a free and appropriate public education for children with disabilities (ages 5-18). It requires IEPs and it first defined the least restrictive environment. IEPs are still used today on students who receive special services, so they are important to be apart of our history in 1975. Having a least restrictive environment is crucial in special education as people cannot restrict environments for students with disabilities. -
Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments (Public Law 99-457)
This event goes hand-in-hand with the EAHCA because it is extending the free and appropriate education to children with disabilities, but it also established early interventions for infants and toddlers with disabilities (ages birth to 2 years). I think this is very important as the ages birth to 2 years is when parents/caregivers start to notice differences in their children. This is the time to start interventions and additional education to children before they get to public schools. -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Public Law 101-336
This event goes along with the VRA as it prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, but this event prohibits discrimination in a private setting instead of just funded programs. This law also protects the equal opportunity for people with disabilities to employment and other public services. People should never be discriminated from the work force as there is always something out there for anyone, including those without disabilities. -
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
This act is very important in our history of special education as it increases school, district, and state accountability for all students, including those from minority populations and with special needs. This act allows for districts to be more flexible with their funds they receive as long as it meets the needs of all of their students. This act also implements early reading interventions as reading is a subject that a lot of students struggle with. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) Public Law 108-446
I didn't include IDEA (101-476) and IDEA (105-17) because this act of 2004 is those ones just improved. This act allows districts to use RTI to see which tier a student is in, and if they can move down or up a tier. There are increased funds and eliminates short-term objectives in an IEP. This act raises the standards for SPED teachers, and prevents disproportionate representation of students in SPED by race and ethnicity. This act has changed the way we look at special education using RTI.
