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Social Security Act passed
Provides funds for vocational rehabilitation, retirement support, and insurance benefits. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
Overturned Plessy vs. Ferguson, "separate but equal" doctrine in public education. Racial segregation in public education became illegal in the United States.
https://www.uscourts.gov/educational-resources/educational-activities/history-brown-v-board-education-re-enactment https://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/clark/brown-v-board-of-education -
Public Law 88-164 passed
Authorizes funds for professionals to work with students with special needs. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/299883 https://history.nih.gov/research/downloads/pl88-164.pdf -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act passed
Passed in 1965, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allows equal opportunity for all students in public education. Specifically, ESEA allows state-run programs for qualifying schools and districts who desire to raise the academic achievement of struggling learners, and those with disabilities, mobility problems, learning difficulties, property, transience, or English Language Learners.
http://www.k12.wa.us/esea/default.aspx -
Architectural Barriers Act passed
This act laid the groundwork for accessibility legislation. This law requires access to facilities designed, built, altered, or leased with Federal funds. -
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) vs. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania decision
This decision decided exceptional children's right to FAPE, a free accessible public education. https://rootedinrights.org/15321-revision-v1/ -
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 passed
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination based on disability in federally conducted programs, programs which receive federal money, federal employment, and federal contractors.
http://www.askearn.org/topics/laws-regulations/rehabilitation-act/ https://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm#anchor65610 -
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act passed
States that it is illegal to deny participation in activities or programs solely based on a disability. https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act passed
The first federal law to assure that all handicapped children receive a free appropriate public education. Updates include IDEA (2004). https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/leg/idea/history.html
https://commons.trincoll.edu/edreform/2012/05/the-education-for-all-handicapped-children-act-a-faltering-step-towards-integration/ -
Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments passed
Allocates federal funds for states to develop plans for special needs children from birth onward. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2801456
https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/leg/idea/history.html -
Javits Act
Provided a small sum of money to support research and demonstration programs focusing on the needs of gifted students from economically disadvantaged circumstances, culturally diverse families, or who are twice-exceptional. https://www2.ed.gov/programs/javits/index.html -
Americans with Disabilities Act passed
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed in 1990, prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunication. Therefore, this law allows disabled persons to participate in everyday public life.
https://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm#anchor62335 https://www.ada.gov/ada_intro.htm -
No Child Left Behind Act passed
Passed by President George Bush in 2001, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) seeks to close the achievement gap by providing all children with a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education. It requires all states to establish state academic standards and a state testing system. The NCLB reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. http://www.k12.wa.us/esea/NCLB.aspx -
Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) passed
Passed in 2004, this federal law makes a free, appropriate public education available for eligible children with disabilities. The law also ensures special education and related services to these children. https://sites.ed.gov/idea/ -
Combating Autism of Act of 2006 passed
Passed by President George Bush in 2006, this law authorizes ASD research centers, vows to increase pubic awareness about ASD, increases early screening for ASDs, and calls on the IACC to share more information about ASD.
This Act was reauthorized in 2011. https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/843https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/12/20061219-3.html -
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed
Resulted in large funds provided to the states under IDEA, one time, to improve the delivery of early intervention services. https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/1/text
https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants/grant-policies/recovery-act-2009.html -
Every Student Succeeds Act passed
Signed by President Obama in 2015, the Every Students Succeeds Act (ESSA) updates No Child Left Behind (2002) by improving programs operated by states, recruiting high quality teachers, providing language instruction for ELLs, transforming 21st Century schools, providing state and local innovation, and more.
https://www.ed.gov/essa
http://www.everystudentsucceedsact.org/