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Brown v. Board of Education
A lawsuit filed by Oliver Brown against Topeka’s Board of Education.
Brown's daughter was not allowed to attend an all white school, which violated the 14th amendment. This lawsuit is focused on racism and segregation. It contributes to the evolution of special education because it “helped people understand that everyone has the right to public education” (Esteves, K.J., Rao,S., 2009). After Brown v. Board of Education, funding for special education increased but was not mandatory in schools. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
ESEA became the “most important part of providing equal access to all students to the education they deserve” (Paul C.A. 2016).
This law funds Elementary and Secondary Education and is renewed every five years (Paul C.A. 2016).ESEA covers funds for libraries, textbooks, programs, and preschools.The No Child Left Behind Act was reauthorized under ESEA in 2001.In 2015, President Obama reauthorized ESEA as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). -
PARC v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (October 8, 1971)
This court case was filed because students were denied public education because they were thought to be “uneducable” and “untrainable”. Parents argued that these laws were unconstitutional and children with disabilities must be eligible for public education.
After this court case ruled that the laws were unconstitutional, it required the state to test and place children with disabilities in appropriate public classrooms. This case led to the Individuals Disability Education Act . -
Mills v. Board of Education
Before this case, students with disabilities did not have an option for special education and were denied services they needed in the public school system. Even though funding was low for programs, the board had to make sure no students were denied the benefits of public education.The outcome of this court case helped the progression of laws that lead to helping students with disabilities.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Education for All Handicapped Children. (Mead, J. F. (n.d.) -
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (September 26, 1973)
The amendment was an anti discrimination law that defines the meaning of a “person with a disability” and protects them from discrimination in any program that receives federal financial assistance (Turnbull, 2010).
Ensures that students with and without disabilities have access to equal assistance in their schools. -
The Education of All Handicapped Children
Made it mandatory for public schools to create programs allowing access to students with disabilities. It required that schools carried out tests for children to provide the education they needed. Parents were able to be apart of the decisions made for their children’s education. Also, students were able to be placed in Least Restrictive Environment, which is when children are able to be in settings with other students who don't have a disability as long as it doesn't interfere with learning. -
Public Law 99-142
An amendment to The Education of All Handicapped Children that allowed a person who had a disability to start receiving interventions from birth, instead of at the age of 3, as it was before (Turnbull, 2015). Allowed children with disabilities, who were previously excluded, to have access to an appropriate education “Thirty-five Years” (2015). Due to this law, the U.S is the world leader in early interventions and in preschool programs for children with disabilities "Thirty-five Years" (2015). -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Signed into law on July 26, 1990 by President George H.W. Bush
Civil rights law which bans discrimination against anyone who has disabilities and allows them to have access to things that everyone should be able to have access to.
ADA applies in all of the following:
Private-sector employment, transportation, state and local government activities, and programs, privately operated businesses that are open to the public, and telecommunications (Turnbull, 2016). -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act
Amendment to EAHC which made is mandatory for all state and local schools to disclose the number of students with disabilities and outcomes of how successfully they were being served (Turnbull, 2015). This was important because it showed if the education of these children were being improved and it ensured that the nation’s policy was being met (Turnbull, 2015). The policy was to provide equal opportunities and a make sure the education was improving the lives of these students (Turnbull, 2015). -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA)
Applied the “Six Principles”; zero reject rule prohibits exclusion of a child from appropriate education, nondiscriminatory evaluation for a fair assessment, appropriate education where instruction is individualized, least restrictive placement so all children can learn alongside each other, parent and student participation so they can be actively involved in decision making and procedural due process where parents and schools accountable in meeting that child’s IDEA rights (Turnbull, 2015).
