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Brown v. Board of Education was one of the cornerstones of the civil rights movement, and helped establish the precedent that “separate-but-equal” education and other services were not, in fact, equal at all. https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/brown-v-board-of-education-of-topeka -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. The Act prohibited discrimination in public accommodations and federally funded programs. It also strengthened the enforcement of voting rights and the desegregation of schools. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/civil-rights-center/statutes/civil-rights-act-of-1964 -
The Section 504 regulations require a school district to provide a "free appropriate public education" (FAPE) to each qualified student with a disability regardless of the nature or severity of the disability. Under Section 504, the provision of regular or special education and related aids and services designed to meet student's individual educational needs as adequately as the needs of non-disabled students are met. https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html -
This act required all public schools accepting federal funds to provide equal access to education for children with physical and mental disabilities. Public schools were required to evaluate children with disabilities and create an educational plan with parent input that would emulate as closely as possible the educational experience of non-disabled students. The act was an amendment to Part B of the Education of the Handicapped Act enacted in 1966. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/94/s6 -
Establishes a program to address the needs of handicapped infants and toddlers and their families. Requires that each handicapped infant or toddler and their family receive: (1) a multidisciplinary assessment of unique needs and the identification of services appropriate to meet such needs; and (2) a written individualized family service plan developed by a multidisciplinary team, including the parent or guardian. https://www.congress.gov/bill/99th-congress/senate-bill/2294 -
The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. https://adata.org/factsheet/ADA-overview -
IDEA was previously known as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) from 1975 to 1990. In 1990, the United States Congress reauthorized EHA and changed the title to IDEA (Public Law No. 94-142). Overall, the goal of IDEA is to provide children with disabilities the same opportunity for education as those students who do not have a disability. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/101/s1824 -
This Act strengthens academic expectations and accountability for the nation's 5.8 million children with disabilities and bridges the gap that has too often existed between what children with disabilities learn and what is required in regular curriculum. https://www2.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/Policy/IDEA/index.html -
The major focus of No Child Left Behind is to close student achievement gaps by providing all children with a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education. Under the law, states are required to test students in reading and math in grades 3–8 and once in high school. https://www.k12.wa.us/policy-funding/grants-grant-management/every-student-succeeds-act-essa-implementation/elementary-and-secondary-education-act-esea/no-child-left-behind-act-2001 -
IDEIA 2004 added a requirement that transition services be based on the student's strengths, as well as their preferences and interests. The addition of strengths makes it clear that the transition plan should focus and build on what the student can do and not focus solely on what the student can not do. https://www.ocali.org/project/transition-planning-and-the-iep/page/ideia-2004 -
The Act emphasizes that the definition of disability should be construed in favor of broad coverage of individuals to the maximum extent permitted by the terms of the ADA and generally shall not require extensive analysis. The effect of these changes is to make it easier for an individual seeking protection under the ADA to establish that he or she has a disability within the meaning of the ADA. https://www.eeoc.gov/statutes/americans-disabilities-act-amendments-act-2008 -
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is the main education law for public schools in the United States. The law holds schools accountable for how students learn and achieve. ESSA aims to provide an equal opportunity for disadvantaged students, including those who get special education. It gives states a central role in how schools account for student achievement. https://www.understood.org/articles/en/every-student-succeeds-act-essa-what-you-need-to-know
