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Elementary and Secondary Education Act
This amendment established the Bureau of the Handicapped within the United States Department of Education. The Bureau’s responsibility was to administer funds for research, education, and training in special education. Funding research on special education led to encouragement to provide special education, but did not yet make it a requirement within schools. -
Rehabilitation Acts Amendment of 1973
The Rehabilitation Act was amended in 1973. The reauthorization in 1973 included the first rights protections for individuals with disabilities, including the right to education. There was a new section which was established within this amendment called Section 504. Section 504 stated that a disability was no reason from excluding people from the benefits of a federally funded program. Therefore, Section 504 mandated a public education for all students. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
After Section 504 was enacted, educational services for children with disabilities was mandated. The Education for All Handicapped Children Act further mandated children with disabilities have access to public schools and mandated several special education policies. Some of the programs-due process, least restrictive environment, and zero reject-are still key aspects of special education today. This act of legislation was often to referred to as IDEA. -
Part C Amendment to EAHCA
In 1986, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was amended. The amendment established the Early Intervention Program for both Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities. At the time, it was under Part H of the amendment, now it is part C. This amendment made early intervention services available to any child until the age of 3. -
Switching EAHCA to IDEA
In 1990, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was amended again, and the name was officially changed to IDEA. Changing the name is not the only change with this amendment. The most important change was the addition of two new disability groups. That change made more people eligible for special education assistance programs. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act was established in 1990. This act extended the protection of handicapped people that was started in Section 504. The ADA includes protection for people with disabilities not just in a classroom setting, but in a social setting. This piece of legislation includes protection in the workplace, social settings, and public buildings. -
No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act was enacted in 2001. The No Child Left Behind Act established educational standards for all grades 3-high school. In order to assess how well the standards are being reached, the No Child Left Behind Act also meant standards-based testing for all students in both regular education and special education.
