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In 1840 the state of Rhode Island passed the first laws regarding the attendance of children in schools. However, this did not apply to students diagnosed with a disability or African American children. The passing of this compulsory attendance law lead to every other state within the union to create similar requirements around 1918. -
In 1890 the Louisiana state legislature passed the Seperate Cars ACT that required equal accommodations for black and whites. However, those of color needed to ride in a separate train car than whites. With this act came strict laws to the officers and directors of the railways. If they were caught allowing someone of the opposite race into the cart they were charged with a misdemeanor. Individuals that entered a car assigned to another race where imprisoned. -
Homer Plessy was an individual that was 7/8 white and 1/8 African American. Hired by a group of Creole professionals to test the Separate Cars ACT Plessy boarded the car designated for white individuals. When asked to leave his refusal lead to his arrest for violating the act. The US Supreme Court ruled in favor of the legal separation of races depicted in the act, because they felt legal equality was upheld as outlined by the act, impacting future education policy for 60 yrs. -
This was a case of a student the was expelled from public school because of the physical disabilities he suffered from. Merritt Beattie was a thirteen year old boy born with deformities that caused uncontrollable face contortions causing him to drool. His teacher claimed this to be "nauseating" to her and the other students. Even through Merritt had the intellectual ability to keep up with his peers, his physical disabilities however, were deemed as too much work for the teacher. -
https://youtu.be/aX9Dmo24_cc
Linda Brown a third grade student was not allowed to attend Sumner Elementary School that was close to her home. Instead she had to walk to Monroe Elementary School six miles away, because of segregation of races. Thurgood Marshall challenged the Plessy ruling of 1896 and Chief Justice Warren ruled public education had no place for separate but equal laws. This changed the segregation within public schools. -
This was a case that involved a young boy named Johnny with mental disabilities. His parents wanted Johnny to have an education, but the laws of PA allowed the public school to deny him. They felt it would be too difficult and costly to educate students that didn't have the mental capacity of a 5 year old by first grade. US District Court Judge Masterson signed a consent decree in this case, stating the former PA laws were unconstitutional. -
A class action lawsuit was filed on the behalf of 7 children having special needs that were denied access to a public education. The board of education felt it would be too difficult and costly to educate and provide services for these students. Through this class action lawsuit a judge ruled that both a free public education or a suitable alternative education be provided regardless of the districts ability to pay for these services. -
In 1975 President Gerald Ford signed the Education for All Handicapped Children into law. Requiring that any public school that accepts federal funding must provide equal access to education for children that have physical and mental disabilities. This law required that public schools evaluate children with disabilities and develop educational plans with parents input. The educational plans needed to emulate as closely as possible the educational experience of non-disabled students. -
NCLB is an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) meant to revise, reauthorize, as well as consolidating various programs. This law requirement academic assessments and for both local education agencies (LEA) and school improvements. NCLB also required LEAs that receives I-A funds to identify for school improvements in any elementary or secondary school served under I-A that fails, two consecutive years, to meet AYP as defined by their State's plan. -
https://sites.ed.gov/idea/about-idea/
IDEA is a special education law established to protect and give rights to students with disabilities from birth through high school or age 21. It ensures that states provide free appropriate public education (FAPE). Students with disabilities must also have the opportunity to learn side by side with non-disabled peers or in the least restrictive environment conducive to their learning abilities. Evaluations of children must be done at no cost.