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Brown v. Board of Education
This landmark case determined that students should not be discriminated against because of their race and that separate but equal was not constitutional. This important ruling had a huge impact on the future of as it helped pave the way for students with disabilities and the legislation that would follow. -
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) P.L. 89-10
This act protected and provided for students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. This act also included a grant program for states to both create and improve programs for students who have disabilities making it an important act for disabled students.. This program would later be revised and become the Education of the Handicapped Act (P.L. 91-230) in 1970. -
Vocational Rehabilitation Act (P.L. 93-112, Section 504)
The Vocational Rehabilitation Act (VRA) of 1973 had a huge impact on students with disabilities because it prohibited any program that was federally funded from discriminating against anyone who was disabled. VRA also defined both handicapped person and appropriate education. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) (P.L. 94-142)
This act puts into place that schools are required to make sure that all children (including those who are disabled) would receive a free public education. This act is also where the least restrictive environment was first defined and individualized education programs were required. Also of importance is that this is the act that would later be reauthorized and expanded to become the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1990. -
Board of Education of the Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley
This landmark case helped to clarify the definition of a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). It was an important case because it had to do with the interpretation of IDEA and how much schools are responsible for providing to disabled students. -
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (P.L. 101-476)
The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) renamed and replaced EAHCA. It also extended what disabilities and services would be considered special education. This act would later be amended in 1997 and again in 2004 when it becomes the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) adding raised standards for special education licensure and allowing districts to use a response to intervention model to help determine a childs needs and placement into special education. -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (P.L. 101-336)
This act added the prohibition of discrimination against those who are disabled to the private sector increasing equal opportunity to all people. It also added people with AIDS to be added to the definition of a disabled person. -
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
The NCLB Act was a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in which it places the state, districts and schools accountable for students performance. NCLB also allows states more flexibility in how they spend their federal funds if they are meeting certain standards. Early reading interventions were also implemented as part of this act.
