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Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
- Separate is not equal.
- Allowed for parents of students with disabilities to contend their students were not receiving adequate education.
- Challenged segregation in education.
- Proved they were denied equal education opportunities.
- School is basically educating all students.
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Mainstreaming Students with Disabilities
- Prior to the 1960s, most students with disabilities were segregated.
- Those on regular campuses were isolated.
- Some were educated in separate schools.
- Disproportionate number of students were in poverty or from diverse backgrounds.
- Mainstreaming addressed only those with mild disabilities.
- Assumed to be “visitors” in general education.
- There to improve social skills.
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Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act
- A civil rights law.
- Protects those who do not qualify for services under IDEA but the students still have a disability. For example a student may have a specific learning disability where accommodations are needed but services are not needed.
- Common accommodations found on 504 plans are extended time, small testing location, being able to write in the testing booklet, etc.
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Inclusion Movement
- In spite of REI, students were not making adequate academic progress.
- Students with moderate to severe needs were not being addressed.
- Accommodations were not being made in the general education classrooms.
- Adequate collaboration was not being achieved.
- By the mid 1980s, the inclusion movement began.
- Controversy still continues regarding full inclusion.
- In 1986, under the Reauthorization of IDEA, services were extended to infants, toddlers, and preschool children aged 3.
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Regular Education Initiative
- A movement during the 1980s to try and correct the limitations of IDEA.
- Eliminated separate special education programs.
- Created one system of general education in which students with disabilities were to be supported within general education classrooms.
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No Child Left Behind
- Responsible for the idea of all students being held to high standards.
- Students will mild disabilities must pass all state assessments like students without disabilities.
- Five core principles of NCLB include strong accountability for results, expanded flexibility and local control of schools, emphasis on research based teaching methods, expanded options for parents, and highly qualified teachers.
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Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004
- Amends Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, the EAHCA amendments of 1983 and 1986, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990, 1992, and 1997.
- More students are educated with non-disabled peers.
- More students with disabilities are employed.
- Six principles of IDEA include due process, equal protection, zero reject, Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), and nondiscriminatory assessment.
