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Compulsory Education
By 1918, Compulsory Education was required in all 50 states for children from ages 8-14. This means that all children were required to attend school and the education must be provided by the state. Unfortunately, these provisions often did no apply to children with disabilities. -
Brown v Board of Education
The supreme court ruled that school segregation is unconstitutional. This decision what the first time the federal government advocated for children who experienced inequality and prejudice in schools. This key court case paved the way for helping other children who experienced prejudice and inequality in school.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1siiQelPHbQ -
Department of Public Welfare v. Haas
The Supreme Court of Illinois ruled that compulsory education laws did not require a free public education for the ‘feeble-minded’ or to children whose limited intelligence rendered them unable to reap the benefits of a good education. -
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act
ESEA initiated protections for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, such as providing free and reduced lunch. It also created a grant that encouraged states to improve programs for children with disabilities. -
PARC v Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children v Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the courts ruled that the state was not allowed to deny any “mentally retarded child access to a free public program of education and training.” This was a major step towards providing special education to all students with disabilities. It set the ball in motion for P.L. 94-142 and Free and Appropriate Education. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
EAHCA required that all children, regardless of their disability, are entitled to a free and appropriate public education. This also allowed children with learning disabilities who were already included in the general education system to receive special education. It required schools to create IEPs for children with disabilities and first defined ‘least restrictive environment.’ -
Individuals with Disabilities Act
IDEA renamed and expanded on the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. It expanded due process and confidentiality guidelines for students and parents. It also required transition services starting at age 16 to help children with disabilities transition into the workforce. IDEA enforced the philosophy of Least Restrictive Environment.
https://www.apa.org/advocacy/education/idea/index -
Cedar Rapids v Garret F.
This court case ruled that the school needed to provide a fulltime nurse for a child who was paralyzed in an accident but had no intellectual impairments. The child required his aid to function in a general education classroom. The courts stated that under IDEA provisions, the school board bore the obligation to provide necessary services to fulfill the child's right to the least restrictive environment and FAPE. -
No Child Left Behind
NCLB covered a wide range of areas in an effort to increase accountability in schools. It required statewide assessments aligned with curriculum accountability standards. It also expected districts to demonstrate adequate yearly progress for children who were not meeting grade-level expectations. -
Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act
IDEIA further expanded on IDEA. It allowed districts to use a Response to Intervention model for children suspected of having a disability. It also increased funds for early intervention services.
