History of Special Education Timeline

By keller68

  • Department of Education formed

    The federalization of education begins.

  • 1906 Binet

    The first intelligent test developed to identify children with learning disabilities so they could be placed in a special class.

  • Brown v the Board of Education of Topeka - Legal Promotion of Social Equality

    May 17th, 1954, the Supreme Court outlawed segregation in schools. (https://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/the-civil-rights-movement-in-america-1945-to-1968/education-and-civil-rights/ )
    In public education, separate but equal has no place.

  • National Defense Education Act (NDEA)

    Grants provided to improve science and math as a result of The Soviet Union launching Sputnik in the 1950’s.

  • Public Law 85-926

    An act, providing financial support to colleges and universities, to encourage training leadership personnel in teaching children with mental retardation. In 1963 Congress expanded Public Law 85–926 to include grants to train college teachers and researchers in a larger population of students with disabilities.

  • Training of Professional Personnel Act of 1959

    The Training of Professional Personnel Act helped to train leaders in educating children with mental retardation.(https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/leg/idea/history.pdf )

  • Teachers of the Deaf Act (PL 87-276)

    This act implemented training to instructional personnel for children who were deaf or hard of hearing (https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/leg/idea/history.pdf )

  • Civil Rights Act

    Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin in programs that receive federal financial assistance.

  • The Elementary and secondary Education Act

    Initially developed to address underprivileged children and the inequality of educational opportunities. In 1966, an additional expansion to the Act was created to help states initiate, expand, and improve programs and projects for the education of handicapped children.

  • The Elementary and Secondary Amendments of 1966

    "Established the first Federal grant program for the education of children and youth with disabilities at the local school level and established the Bureau of Education of the Handicapped (BEH) and the National Advisory Council (now called the National Council on Disability)."
    (http://www.avoiceonline.org/edpol/timeline.html)

  • The Bilingual Education Act

    Offered federal aid to help establish educational programs to local districts to assist in supporting students with limited English speaking ability.

  • The Handicapped Children's Education Act

    Currently enacted as IDEA, this was to support states, and localities in protecting the rights and meeting the individual needs of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their families. It provided the establishment of 75-100 model preschool programs for handicapped children.

  • Education of the Handicapped Act (EHA)

    The act, a grant program, was created to financial stimulate the States to develop resources and educational programs for individuals with disabilities.

  • Parc v Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    Worked on the exclusion of children with mental retardation in and from public schools. This established the standard of appropriate education that could be offered at the students learning capacity. It also established a clear preference for least restrictive placements.

  • Congressional Investigation

    As a result of PARC and Mills ruling, Congress wanted a clearer view on how many children were underserved in the education system. It found that 8 million children were in need of special education services.

  • Mills v. Board of Education of District of Columbia

    This was focused on the practice of suspending, expelling, and excluding children with disabilities from Washington D.C public schools. The school district’s primary defense in the case was the high cost of educating children with disabilities.

  • The Rehabilitation Act 504

    This act stated, as long as federal financial assistance was being accepted by a school it must not discriminate in offering services to individuals with disabilities.

  • The Education for All Handicapped Children's Act (Public Law 94-142)

    In addition to requiring all schools to provide a FAPE to children with disabilities, this act also required the student, parents, and teachers to develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP). However, the act did not specify any services, educational standards or outcomes.
    Procedural Safeguards were now included to protect the rights of children and parents.

  • Creation of the Department of Education

    The original Department of Education began in 1867. On May 4, 1980, Congress combined several federal agencies to form the U.S. Department of Education as a Cabinet-level agency. (http://creationwiki.org/U.S._Department_of_Education)

  • Rowley v Board of Education of Hendrick Hudson School District

    It is simply not enough to make education accessible it also needs to be personalized instruction with support services so that the student can benefit educationally. In this case, providing an interpretur.

  • Tatro v Irving Independent School District

    (www.specialeducationadvisor.com) This case defined the scope of related services and also created the medical exception rule. It was stated that the district must provide all supportive services that are necessary unless a physician is needed to provide the service.

  • Burlington School Committee v Massachusetts Department of Education

    (www.specialeducationadvisor.com) This court case ruled that the parent has the right to a reimbursement of private school tuition in certain situations. The rules for reimbursement included the school district’s offer needing to meet the definition of FAPE and the parent’s private school placement has to give FAPE. For parents who privately place the children and seek reimbursement must do this “at their own financial risk”.

  • EHA Amendment

    This amendment requires state and local educational agencies to provide a FAPE to all children with disabilities. Additionally, it mandates states provide programs and services beginning at birth.

  • Honig v Doe

    (www.specialeducationadvisor.com) This court case removed a school’s authority to suspend or expel a student with an IEP for greater than 10 days unless there is evidence of drugs, weapons, or serious bodily injury. To be allowed to have a suspension, the school must get a ruling from a hearing officer or court though.

  • Daniel R. R. vs. State Board of Education

    Determined that LRE and appropriate placement is not always in the reguar education setting. In some cases, it is neccessary to consider more restrictive placements.

  • Americans with Disabilities Act

    This act prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities will have the same rights as those without disabilities. It is known as the "Equal Opportunity" law for people with disabilities.

  • Oberti v. Board of Education of the Borough of Clementon

    This case established that if placement outside the classroom is necessary, the school district must then include the child in as many school programs with children who do not have disabilities “to the maximum extent appropriate.” (https://www.pubintlaw.org)

  • EHA/ IDEA

    Requires every state to have policies and procedures in place to ensure each child receives a free and appropriate public education. It also specified that transition planning should begin at age 14.

  • Garret v Cedar Rapids Community School District

    (www.specialeducationadvisor.com) Another Supreme Court case that looked at related services and decided that cost should not be considered a factor. If the service is needed to attend school and it doesn’t meet the medical exception test, then the school has to provide the assistance and services.

  • No Child left Behind

    Under this law states are required to test students in grades 3-8 and once in high school in math and reading to ensure students are meeting or exceeding standards. There are four pillars of the bill: accountability, flexibility, research-based education, and parent options.
    (http://www.k12.wa.us/ESEA/NCLB.aspx)

  • 2004 IDEA Amendment

    Mandates equality, accountability and excellence in education for children with disabilities.

  • Gaskin v. Pennsylvania

    The main focus of the settlement in this case was to ensure that school districts comply with existing federal laws, specifically around issues of "Least Restrictive Environment". Ensuring that children with disabilities were being educated alongside their nondisabled peers with working supports, as defined in IDEA, were in place.