Special Education Timeline

  • Brown vs. Board of Education

    Segregation in schools was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, creating a spark for equality in education.
  • The Elementary and Secondary Education Act

    This act helped to improve disabled students' opportunities, using state federal money.
  • Diana v. State Board of Education

    This contributed to rectifying the misclassification of students in special education by ensuring non-biased IQ tests administered in the language suitable for each student.
  • Education of the Handicapped Act

    This act established state grants to facilitate the expansion of education programs catering to students with disabilities, while allocating federal funding to schools for the purpose of enhancing the training and professional development of special education teachers.
  • Mills vs. Board of Education

    This significant court case established the right of children with disabilities to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). It mandated that public schools could not exclude children with disabilities and must provide appropriate educational services.
  • The Rehabilitation Act (Section 504)

    This federal law prohibited discrimination based on disability in any program receiving federal funds. It provided protection and accessibility for individuals with disabilities, including students with special needs, in schools and other institutions.
  • Education for All Handicapped Children Act

    This federal law mandated the provision of a free and appropriate public education for all children with disabilities. It ensured that students with disabilities received special education services tailored to their individual needs in requiring schools to create Individualized Education Plans (IEP).
  • The Handicapped Children's Protection Act

    This act amended the EAHCA to safeguard the rights of students with disabilities against improper expulsion and placement in inappropriate educational settings.
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act

    This landmark civil rights legislation extended protection against discrimination to individuals with disabilities in various areas, including education, employment, transportation, public accommodations, access to state and local government programs and services, and communications. It also required schools to provide reasonable accommodations and ensure accessibility for students with disabilities.
  • The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA)

    This reorganization of the EAHCA strengthened the rights of students with disabilities by emphasizing the importance of individualized education plans (IEPs) and inclusive education practices.
  • No Child Left Behind Act

    In response to concerns about the low academic achievement of American students, this controversial law was enacted, which held the government accountable for the academic progress of students and implemented standardized testing as a measure of their performance.
  • IDEA of Improvement Act

    This policy provided a clear definition of what constituted a "highly qualified" special education teacher, while also promoting the implementation of the Response to Intervention (RTI) model within classrooms. Furthermore, it eliminated short-term goals from Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students, except for those with severe disabilities.
  • Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

    This law replaced the No Child Left Behind Act and included provisions to support and improve the educational outcomes of students with disabilities. It aimed to reduce achievement gaps and increase access to high-quality education for all students and transparency for parents.
  • Endrew F. vs. Douglas County School District

    In this Supreme Court case, the Court clarified the standard for providing students with disabilities a FAPE. It ruled that schools must offer an educational program reasonably calculated to enable a child to make progress appropriate in light of their circumstances. In other words, students with disabilities would receive a higher standard of education.