Special Education Timeline

  • Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)

    Addressed the inequality of educational opportunity for underprivileged children
  • Education of the Handicapped Act

    Enacted by Congress to encourage states, through grant funding, to develop educational programs for individuals with disabilities
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Act, Section 504

    This law prohibits discrimination against students and youth with disabilities in terms of federal funding
  • Educational Amendments Act

    This law gave students and their families the rights to due process in special education. It also granted federal funding for gifted and talented students
  • The Education for all Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA)

    This law recognized the need for special education services for those who were diagnosed with learning disabilities
  • Education of Handicapped Acts Amendments

    The law provided early intervention programs for children with disabilities from birth to age 2
  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

    The law extended special education services to include social work, rehabilitation. It also provided due process in education
  • No Child Left (NCLB)

    This law aimed to ensure that all students would have the opportunity for a solid education
  • Assistive Technology Act

    This was a federal law designed to maximize the ability of people with disabilities to select, obtain, and use assistive technology
  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (reauthorized)

    Provided early intervention services for children not currently identified as needing special education services