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Brown v. Board of Education
A landmark case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
Impact: Established the legal foundation that "separate is not equal," influencing later decisions around access and inclusion for students with disabilities. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
A federal law that provided funding for primary and secondary education, emphasizing equal access to education.
Impact: Set the precedent for federal involvement in education and laid the groundwork for programs supporting students with disabilities. Legislation was passed under Johnson pictured -
PARC v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
A lawsuit that challenged Pennsylvania laws that excluded children with intellectual disabilities from public education.
Impact: Required states to provide free public education to children with intellectual disabilities — a precursor to IDEA. -
Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia
The court ruled that students with disabilities could not be excluded from public schools due to lack of funding.
Impact: Reinforced the right to education for all children with disabilities, regardless of financial burden on the district. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) – PL 94-142
Required public schools to provide free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to children with disabilities.
Impact: Mandated IEPs, parent participation, and Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) — cornerstones of today’s Special Ed practices. -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
A civil rights law prohibiting discrimination based on disability in all areas of public life.
Impact: Broadened protections for students with disabilities beyond school — including access to buildings, transportation, and employment. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Reauthorization of EAHCA with increased emphasis on transition services and assistive technology.
Impact: Reinforced FAPE, IEP, and LRE while addressing postsecondary transitions and inclusive technology supports. -
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
Increased accountability in education through standardized testing and reporting of results for all student groups.
Impact: Emphasized performance of students with disabilities and their inclusion in accountability systems. -
IDEA Reauthorization / Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act
Aligned with NCLB; introduced Response to Intervention (RTI).
Impact: Promoted early identification and data-driven instruction. -
Forest Grove School District v. T.A.
Supreme Court ruled parents may receive private school reimbursement without prior public services.
Impact: Expanded FAPE protections and parental rights under IDEA. -
Senate Bill 507 – Cameras in Special Ed Classrooms (Texas)
Requires video/audio monitoring in certain self-contained special ed classrooms upon request.
Impact: Promotes safety and transparency in Texas special education settings. -
Texas Education Agency (TEA) Corrective Action Plan
U.S. Department of Education found Texas limited special ed enrollment; TEA was ordered to fix this.
Impact: Led to increased child find efforts and service access in Texas. -
Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District
Supreme Court raised the standard of FAPE beyond “minimal progress.”
Impact: Requires IEPs to enable meaningful academic and functional progress. -
House Bill 3 – Transition and Special Education Funding (Texas)
Expanded special ed funding and required transition planning improvements.
Impact: Improved postsecondary outcomes and ensured funding for students needing accelerated instruction.