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Brown v. Board of Education
The Supreme Court rules that the segregation of African-Americans in public schools is unconstitutional and unequal. This overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson case and provided a Civil Rights movement to provide equal access to minorities. This was helpful to students with disabilities as this case inspired educational reform all over the country. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
This landmark legislation enacted by Congress provided resources to help ensure that disadvantaged students had access to quality education. President Lydon B. Johnson signed the law with his elementary teacher next to him. This legislation emphasized equal access to education and promoted high standards and accountability to schools. This legislation will later become the No Child Let Behind Act -
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (PARC)
This case involved students with mental disabilities being denied their constitutional rights to equal protection under the law. This was important to special education students because the court ruled that students with mental disabilities had to be granted an education similar or equal to their non-disabled peers. -
Mills v. Board of Education of District of Columbia
This case claimed that students with disabilities were being excluded from school. This case made the needs of the child come before fiscal restraints from the school. This case was important to special education students because it established due process procedures to ensure all students disabled or non-disabled equal protection under the law. -
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act 1973
This law is very important because it was the first civil rights statute for people with disabilities. This law also helped in the formation of the American Disability Act. It was important to special education students because it was the first nationwide law that stated that students with disabilities should be provided with a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. Today's IEP's reflect this ruling. -
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
This a Federal law that is designed to protect the privacy of students' school records. The law outlines parental rights concerning their child's information. These rights transfer to the child when they turn 18 or move onto secondary education. This law gives parents (and eligible children) access to all personally identifiable information that was collected and maintained regarding their child. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) Public Law 94-142
This act ensured a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment for all children with disabilities. This law outlined that schools needed to put into place a procedure so parents of children with disabilities could dispute decisions regarding their child's education. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that requires schools to serve the educational needs of eligible students with disabilities. Schools must find and evaluate students suspected of having disabilities—at no cost to parents. Not every child with learning and attention issues qualifies under IDEA -
The Americans with Disabilities Act
The ADA is a law to protect people with disabilities from being discriminated against. It is designed so that people with disabilities have equal opportunities in five areas. These areas are employment, public services, public accommodations, telecommunications, and miscellaneous provisions. It was important to special education students because it protected them both in work place and school. -
IDEA amendments of 1997
President Bill Clinton signs amendments to the IDEA. More students with disabilities are being integrated into the general education classrooms. A big success for special education. This is huge because inclusion is introduced. -
President Obama allows waivers for NCLB
President Obama allows states to request waivers for flexibility in meeting some of the requirements in the NCLB act. This is due to the fact that the NCLB act has yet to be reauthorized. Through the waiver schools can show student improvement (AYP) through multiple means a benefit for students with disabilities. -
Legislation/Statute: Every Student Succeeds Act
Effect on special eductaion and Children with Disability: Ensures that all students are tested, receive appropriate accommodations when necessary, and all students are held to the same standards. The Act also requires that the students are given an annual statewide assessment in reading/language arts, mathematics from grades 3-8 and once during high school. -
CASE Law: Endrew v. Douglas County School Dist.
Effect on Special Education and Children with Disability: Different standards need to be used for a student who is not fully integrated into the general education classroom. When a student is NOT fully included into a general education classroom then the IEP should "pursue academic and functional advancement.
