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The Brown V.Board of Education took place in 1954. This case came alive due to racial segregation happening in the schools where black students were separated from white students and they even had separate schools for both races. On May 17, 1954, The U.S constitution ruled that segregation in Public Schools because it denies children with equal education opportunities. This law reasoned that it was unlawful to discriminate students for unpredictable reasons. (Gargiulo, 2026, pg. 39). -
In 1971 families supported by PARC filed a lawsuit against the state of pennsylvania and some school districts because they stated that the children of the families were being labeled as "uneducable and untrainable". Some school districts denied children that did not function like a 5 year old by the time they were 8 access to public education.This case guaranteed children with intellectual disabilities the right to public education.This was important because it influenced the creation of (IDEA) -
The Mills V. Board of Education began due to washington denying access to public education to seven students with disabilities. According to the school district they weren't able afford to accommodate them. The lawsuit emerged when these children were excluded from school due to their disability. This event was important in the history of special education because it established the right for children with exceptionalities to public education matched to their needs. (Gargiulo, 2026, pg. 39) -
The section 504 of the rehabilitation act protects children and adults against discrimination due to their disability. It states no individual should be excluded due to their disability, from participating or benefitting from any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance like schools. Due to this section schools are required to have reasonable accommodations for the students with disabilities.(Gargiulo, 2026, pg. 41) -
In 1975 the Education for all Handicapped children act was passed. This was a Federal Law that was passed to ensure all children had the right to free and appropriate public education regardless of disability status. This law was influenced by the prior civil right cases in this timeline. This act was for children. A classroom implication that raised up from this were Individualized Education Programs (IEP'S). It inforced for children to be taught in a least restrictive environment.(LRE) -
In 1982 Amy Rowley a deaf first grader was placed an a general education classroom with support. Rowley's parents requested a full time interpreter but the school denied the request as crowley was progressing academically and socially. The crowleys argued that she wasn't reaching her best potential without an interpreter.The court reversed the lower courts due to the EHA. Due to this case a two part test is used today to assess if a school meets its special education obligations under IDEA. -
In 1990 the Education for all handicapped children was renamed to the name that we still used today which is the Individuals with disabilities education act (IDEA). In 1990 they also added autism and traumatic brain injuries as a new disability category. (ITP'S) were also introduced this year as a requirement to be done no longer than the age of 16. ITP'S are Individualized Transition Plans which is used to support students to transition from school to adult life. -
In 1997 the IDEA was reauthorized. This included new changes to the act that stated students with disabilities could be disciplined like other students for misbehavior as long as it did not relate to their disability. The IEP should include how the student will be involved and will make process. ITP'S will begin at the age of 14. Orientation and mobility services for children with visual impairments was added to the definition of related services. -
With this act it required that special education teachers were more qualified. The improvement act also aligned with no child left behind (NCLB). Response to Intervention became allowed to be used as a part of the special education evaluation. Early intervention services were also expanded to those children or students that have not been yet identified with special education needs. -
In 2017 a student with autism attended public school through 4th grade and received annual IEP's. Parents then transferred him to a autism- focused school where he made significant progress compared to the public school. The parents then filed for tuition reimbursement saying that the public school failed at providing a (FAPE).This case implicated that IEPs must demonstrate real advancement and must also be appropriately ambitious for the student. The court denied the request due to IDEA.