Special Education Law Timeline

Brown v Board of Education

May 17, 1954

The court decided that schools could no longer segregate white and colored children in public schools. This led to parents of children with disabilities to bring their cases to court as well for the exclusion faced by children with disabilities. This is the event that sparked the beginning of special education.

Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA)

Apr 9, 1965

This law was created to ensure that children who were underprivileged would have access to quality education. In 1966, the law was amended to include children with disabilities. This allowed students to have access to special education services that were of high quality.

Pennsylvania Assn. for Retarded Children v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (PARC)

Oct 8, 1971

This case led to Pennsylvania providing free public education for children with intellectual disabilities. The decision demonstrated that children with disabilities were deserving of quality special education.

Congressional Investigation

1972

The cases of PARC and Mills prompted congress to investigate on whether children with disabilities were receiving free public education. They found that many were not, which led to The Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975. This impacted special education by demonstrating congress’ advocacy for having students receive the special education services they needed.

Mills v. Board of Education of District of Columbia

Dec 17, 1972

The court decided that children with mental, behavioral, physical, or emotional disabilities had a right to free public education, regardless of if their district stated they did not have enough funds. This impacted special education by placing importance of relocating funds to these services to provide free public education to children with disabilities.

Public Law 94-142: The Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975

Nov 29, 1975

This law required each state to ensure that children with disabilities were given equal access to an education as well as one free meal a day. Special education services were now going to receive more students with disabilities.

Public Law 94-142 Amended

Oct 8, 1976

Congress amended this law because previously it began at the age of three. However, this law required that states provide services to children with disabilities from the moment they are born. This could impact special education by offering preventative services early on, which would reduce the number of students with disabilities in special education classes.

Handicapped Children’s Protection Act

Aug 6, 1986

This law granted parents a greater role in their child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP). This impacts special education because it allows for more collaboration between educators and parents to provide necessary services for the student.

Public Law 101-476: Individuals with Disabilities Act

Jan 1, 1990

This law amended Public Law 94-142: The Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975. It included traumatic brain injury and autism as disabilities and required an individual transition plan (ITP) to be included in an IEP.

No Child Left Behind Act

Jan 2, 2002

This law amended the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) and highly emphasized high quality education for students with disabilities while requiring them to complete state assessments. This placed immense stress on special education by placing general education students and students with disabilities in the same requirement for state testing.

Public Law 101-476 Amended

Dec 4, 2004

Congress strived for earlier intervention services and improved educational outcomes. Special education teachers were also required to meet higher standards. Congress required states to relocate 15% of funds to general education classes if there was overrepresentation of minority children in special education.