Timeline of Special Education History Timeline of Special Education History

A TIMELINE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION HISTORY A TIMELINE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION HISTORY

7.17.07 7.17.07
Prepared by John Peterson Prepared by John Peterson

YEAR YEAR HISTORICAL EVENT HISTORICAL EVENT IMPACT ON PUBLIC IMPACT ON PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHOOLS
1965 1965 Congress adds Title VI to the Elementary Congress adds Title VI to the Elementary
and Secondary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 Education Act of 1965
creating a Bureau of Education for the creating a Bureau of Education for the
Handicapped Handicapped (this bureau today is called (this bureau today is called
the Ofce of Special Education Programs the Ofce of Special Education Programs
or or OSEP). OSEP).
Educating students with disabilities is Educating students with disabilities is
still NOT mandated still NOT mandated by federal or state by federal or state
law. However, creation of the Bureau law. However, creation of the Bureau
signied that a signied that a change was on the change was on the
horizon. horizon.
1972 1972 Two signicant supreme court decisions Two signicant supreme court decisions
[PARC v. [PARC v. Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (1972) (1972) and Mills v. and Mills v.
D.C. Board of Education (1972)] apply the D.C. Board of Education (1972)] apply the
equal protection equal protection argument to students argument to students
with disabilities. with disabilities.
The courts take the position that The courts take the position that
children with children with disabilities have an equal disabilities have an equal
right to access education as their non- right to access education as their non-
disabled disabled peers. Although there is no peers. Although there is no
existing federal law that mandates this existing federal law that mandates this
stance, stance, some students begin going to some students begin going to
school as a result of these court school as a result of these court
decisions. decisions.
1973 1973 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 is enacted 1973 is enacted into statute. This national into statute. This national
law protects qualied individuals from law protects qualied individuals from
discrimination based on their disability. discrimination based on their disability.
This national law was enacted with little This national law was enacted with little
fanfare. Most fanfare. Most educators were not aware educators were not aware
that this applied to public schools. that this applied to public schools.
1974 1974 The Family Educational Rights and The Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act (FERPA) Privacy Act (FERPA) is is enacted. enacted.
Parents are allowed to have access to Parents are allowed to have access to
all personally all personally identiable information identiable information
collected, maintained, or used by a collected, maintained, or used by a
school district school district regarding their child. regarding their child.
1975 1975 The Education for All Handicapped The Education for All Handicapped
Children Act (EAHCA) is Children Act (EAHCA) is enacted. This enacted. This
was also known as P.L. 94-142. Today we was also known as P.L. 94-142. Today we
Before 1975, children with disabilities Before 1975, children with disabilities
were mostly denied were mostly denied an education solely an education solely
on the basis of their disabilities. on the basis of their disabilities.
Timeline of Special Education History back
know this law as the know this law as the Individuals with Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
EAHCA, along with EAHCA, along with some key supreme some key supreme
court cases, mandated all school court cases, mandated all school
districts to educate districts to educate students with students with
disabilities. disabilities.
1977 1977 The nal federal regulations of EAHCA The nal federal regulations of EAHCA
are released. are released.
The nal federal regulations are The nal federal regulations are
enacted at the start of enacted at the start of the 1977-1978 the 1977-1978
school year and provide a set of rules in school year and provide a set of rules in
which school which school districts must adhere to districts must adhere to
when providing an education to when providing an education to
students with students with disabilities. disabilities.
1986 1986 The EAHCA is amended with the addition The EAHCA is amended with the addition
of the Handicapped of the Handicapped Childrens Protection Childrens Protection
Act. Act.
This amendment makes clear that This amendment makes clear that
students and parents have students and parents have rights under rights under
EAHCA (now IDEA) and Section 504. EAHCA (now IDEA) and Section 504.
1990 1990 The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
is enacted. is enacted.
ADA ADA adopts the Section 504 adopts the Section 504 regulations regulations
as part of the as part of the ADA ADA statute. In turn, statute. In turn,
numerous 504 Plans for individual numerous 504 Plans for individual
students start to students start to become more common become more common
place in school districts. place in school districts.
1990 1990 The EAHCA is amended and is now The EAHCA is amended and is now
called the Individuals called the Individuals with Disabilities with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA). Education Act (IDEA).
This amendment calls for many This amendment calls for many
changes to the old law. One changes to the old law. One of the of the
biggest was the addition of transition biggest was the addition of transition
services for students with services for students with disabilities. disabilities.
School Districts School Districts were now required were now required to to
look at outcomes and assisting students look at outcomes and assisting students
with disabilities in transitioning with disabilities in transitioning from from
high school to postsecondary life. high school to postsecondary life.
1997 1997 IDEA reauthorized IDEA reauthorized This amendment calls for students with This amendment calls for students with
disabilities to be disabilities to be included in on state included in on state
and district-wide assessments. Also, and district-wide assessments. Also,
Regular Education Regular Education Teachers are now Teachers are now
required to be a member of the IEP required to be a member of the IEP
team. team.
2001 2001 No Child Left Behind is enacted. No Child Left Behind is enacted. This law calls for all students, including This law calls for all students, including
students with students with disabilities, to be disabilities, to be
procient in math and reading by the procient in math and reading by the
year 2014. year 2014.
2004 2004 IDEA reauthorized IDEA reauthorized There are several changes from the There are several changes from the
1997 reauthorization. 1997 reauthorization. The biggest The biggest
changes call for more accountability at changes call for more accountability at
the state and local the state and local levels, as more data levels, as more data
on outcomes is required. Another on outcomes is required. Another
notable change involves notable change involves school districts school districts
providing adequate instruction and providing adequate instruction and
intervention for students intervention for students to help keep to help keep
them out of special education. them out of special education.