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Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education was a Supreme Court case from 1954. It was ruled during this case that racial segregation of children in schools was unconstitutional. This decision led to the integration of schools in the United States, a huge step for the Civil Rights Movement and for education across America. -
PARC v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens (PARC) v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania case overturned a Pennsylvania law that allowed schools to deny education to children who had not reached a mental age of 5 years old by first grade. This law was holding back disabled children from having the same educational rights as all other children in America.
https://www.pubintlaw.org/cases-and-projects/pennsylvania-association-for-retarded-citizens-parc-v-commonwealth-of-pennsylvania/ -
Mills v. Board of Education of District of Columbia
Mills v. Board of Education of DC was sparked due to seven children with special needs who were denied free public education because the services that were needed for them were "too expensive". The court ruled that all children must receive free public education regardless of what disabilities they have, therefore granting the seven children their educational rights. -
Education For All Handicapped Children Act
The Education For All Handicapped Children Act was passed by Congress in 1975, making sure all public schools were required to accept funds that gave disabled children equal educational rights. The act also provided one free meal a day to these children. This law ensures that all children are given equal educational access. -
Board of Education of Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley
The Board of Education of HHC School District v. Rowley case interpreted the Education For All Handicapped Children act of 1975. This was the first time the court interpreted any part of this act and was the first special education case to be decided in the Supreme Court. The court ruling was that a student does not need to receive instruction to reach their full potential.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIXSW-DYVm8 -
Handicapped Children's Protection Act
The Handicapped Children's Protection Act was enacted in 1986. The law provided additional funding for toddler and infant programs and provided special education services for preschoolers with disabilities. This act expanded the age that children were able to receive services for their needs. -
Honig v. Doe
Honig v. Doe was a Supreme Court case that ruled that the Education For All Handicapped Children Act was violated by a California school after they suspended a disabled student who had disruptive behavior that had to do with his special needs. This court case showed that students with disabilities that can cause certain aggressive behaviors should be provided with the correct and direct services. -
Cedar Rapids Community School District v. Garret F.
Garret F. was a student in the Cedar Rapids Community School District who required a wheelchair and ventilator, needing assistance with his physical activities throughout his school day. He was not provided these direct services, seeing as it was "too expensive". The court ruled that these services must be provided by the district. -
No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act was a law that held schools more accountable for what kids were achieving. This law required states to test students from third grade and on in reading and math to be able to measure progress, which sparked controversy since schools that weren't showing improvement were penalized. -
IDEA Reauthorized
In December of 2004, then president Bush signed a reauthorization of the IDEA act. The revision made changes to the original law, such as adding new authority for school personnel, establishing a new standard for special circumstances, and adding a new provision when a behavior is determined to have been as a result of a disability.