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Founded by Thomas Gallaude, the first permanent school for deaf students in the U.S was established in Hartford, Connecticut. This school influenced future special education programs. It helped change public attitudes toward disability.
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Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) was created to support teachers working with students with disabilities. The organization promotes research, professional training, and best practices. Council of Exceptional Children is now the major professional organization of special educators and continues to support inclusive education today. https://exceptionalchildren.org/?srsltid=AfmBOorvhCMLpG6p2_dbKEHTDNEi0x8dOjO9wF7-AkG8XSGgD8avuyK6
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In Brown v. Board of Education, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that segregated schools are unconstitutional. Although the case focused on race, it established that separate education is unequal. This decision later supported arguments that students with disabilities should not be separated from general education. https://www.wrightslaw.com/law/caselaw/ussupct.brown.bd.ed.htm
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ESEA provided federal funding for students from low-income families and students with disabilities. It increased federal responsibility for public education. The law led to expanded educational programs. It supported equal access to schooling.
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This was a class action lawsuit due to school aged children being denied placement in a public educational program because of their disability. The court ruled that all students with disabilities must receive education, even if schools lacked funding. It protected students with emotional and behavioral needs. The decision expanded disability rights beyond intellectual disabilities.
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This law ensured schools to provide Free Appropriate Public Education to students with disabilities. It introduced Individualized Education Programs (IEP) and parent rights. Schools could no longer exclude students. It was later renamed Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1990.
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ndividuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guaranteed a free appropriate public education (FAPE) and required Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for eligible students. It added autism and traumatic brain injury as disability categories. Parents gained stronger rights in decision-making.
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The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) required yearly testing and accountability for all students. Students with disabilities had to participate with accommodations. Schools reported and tracked progress by student groups. Academic expectations increased nationwide.
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The expansion of transition services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) refined the definition to focus on improving academic/functional achievement post-school life. It coordinated effort to prepare students with disabilities for life after high school, focusing on postsecondary education, employment, and independent living through personalized plans (IEPs).
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Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) reauthorized the 50-year-old Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and replaced the controversial No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, shifting more authority and flexibility to states and local school districts. The goal of ESSA is to ensure all students have access to a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, while closing achievement gaps between different student groups including low-income students, students with disabilities, and English learners.