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Brown v. Board of Education
Ended not only segregation of students by race, but also raised awareness of students with disabilities who were being excluded from public education. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
Signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson which provided federal funding to primary and secondary education to support professional development, educational programs, parent involvement promotions, and instructional materials. This also ensured that there'd be equal access to education, including low-income families. -
Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia
"Right to Education" Extended the Pennsylvania decisions to include all children with disabilities and establishing due process procedures to ensure all students had equal rights. Student's also received free public educational services based on their individual needs. -
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Signed by President Richard Nixon which probits discrimination in the workplace, schools, or any programs receiving federal funding. In order to be eligible to receive free appropriate public education (FAPE), students with disabilities need an individualized education plan (IEP) with accommodations and modifications in the least restrictive environment (LRE). -
Equal Educational Opportunities Act (EEOA)
Signed by President Richard Nixon, prohibits discrimination against faculty, staff, and students, including racial segregation of students, and requires school districts to take action to overcome barriers to students' equal participation. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
All public schools receiving federal funding must provide free and appropriate public education to all. Public schools are also required to evaluate children with disabilities and create an individualized educational plan (IEP) with parent input that would emulate as closely as possible the educational experience of non-disabled students in the least restrictive environment (LRE). -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Assured that all children with disabilities are guaranteed access to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE) to meet their unique needs, and protect their rights as well as parent's rights. IDEA also allows for transition programs, bilingual education, and related services (social work, etc). -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Signed by President George H. W. Bush to provide clear, strong, consistent and enforceable standards prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities in the workforce, regardless of their age, sex, race or extent of their disability. The Equal Opportunity also provides transportation, accommodations, services, and employment to these individuals. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 1997
Signed by President Bill Clinton, added to the previous act which allowed parents to receive mediation to resolve differences with the education system, and began including general education teachers in the IEP Team. Behavior management plans also began being implemented and students with disabilities were also required to take standardized tests. -
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
Signed by President George W. Bush, aimed to improve student achievement through annual standardized assessment of all students and making school districts accountable for performance. This also determined the federal funding districts would receive, resulting in seeking highly qualified teachers. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEIA)
Improved outcomes by emphasizing reading, discipline, early intervention, response to intervention (RTI), and research-based instruction by requiring that special education teachers be highly qualified and meet accessibility standards. -
Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment Act (ADAAA)
The ADAAA changed the definition of the term "disability" by clarifying and broadening it to 'an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.' -
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Signed by President Barack Obama, replaces the No Child Left Behind Act, and gives more control to the states and districts in determining the standards students are held to, while still accountable by ensuring they are implementing complete and ambitious, yet feasible goals with consequences for low performance. Only 1% of students can be given alternative assessments.
