Important Dates in Special Education Law

  • Rehabilitation Act: Section 504

    This law required any recipient of federal financial assistance to end discrimination against those with disabilities in the services they offered.
  • Education for All Handicapped Children Act

    This landmark federal law required all public schools recieving federal funds to provide equal access to education for children with mental and physical disabilities.
  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

    In 1990, the Education for Handicapped Children Act was amended to place more emphasis on the individual student instead of the disability becoming the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
  • IDEA amended

    IDEA was amended in 1997 to include children with developmental disabilities between the ages of 3 and 9. The amendment also authorized additional grant money.
  • IDEA reauthorized to align with No Child Left Behind

    The 2004 amendments to IDEA placed mored accountability on schools in how they educate students with disabilities. These amendments also expanded the criteria for identifiying students with disabilities