Special Education Timeline

  • Brown v. Board of Education Topeka

    The segregation of African Americans in public schools is unconstitutional and unequal. It was helpful to students with disabilities as this case inspired educational reform all over the country
  • Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)

    Legislation enacted by congress to help ensure that disadvantaged students had access to quality education
  • Mills V Board of Education of District of Colombia

    That students with disabilities were being excluded from school. Established due process to ensure that all students disabled or not got equal protection under law
  • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

    Designed to protect the privacy of students' school records
  • Education for all Handicapped Children

    Ensure free and public education in the least restrictive environment for all children with disabilities
  • Individuals with Disabilities Act

    The Education for all Handicapped Children Act was amended and called the Individuals with Disabilities Act
  • 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
  • No Child Left Behind Act

    This act promotes high achieving standards for all students, including those with disabilities
  • No Child Left Behind Act Reauthorization

    This reauthorization requires that special education teachers be highly qualified. It also states that all paraprofessionals that work in Title I schools be qualified.
  • 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. Through the waiver, schools can show student improvement through multiple means a benefit for students with disabilities.