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he Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional. This landmark case influenced special education by establishing equality in access to education for all students
https://www.oyez.org/cases/1940-1955/347us483 -
ESEA provided federal funding to support students from low-income families and set the stage for educational equity. Later, it was revised to include protections for students with disabilities
https://www2.ed.gov/legislation/ESEA.pdf -
Mainstreaming placed students with disabilities in general education classrooms as much as possible. The goal was social integration, academic inclusion, and greater acceptance among peers https://www.understood.org/articles/en/mainstreaming-in-education -
This act guaranteed free and appropriate public education (FAPE) for children with disabilities. Schools were required to provide individualized education programs (IEPs) and services in the least restrictive environment
https://sites.ed.gov/idea/ -
ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in public and private sectors, including education, transportation, and employment, ensuring greater access to opportunities https://www.ada.gov/ -
DEA ensures FAPE, IEPs, parent involvement, transition services, and the right to a least restrictive environment. It marked a significant expansion of federal protections for students with disabilities https://sites.ed.gov/idea/ -
NCLB required annual testing for students, including those with disabilities, and accommodations to ensure they could demonstrate learning. This influenced classroom practices and inclusion https://www.ed.gov/nclb/overview/intro/execsumm.pdf -
Part C provides early intervention for infants and toddlers with disabilities (ages 0-3) and helps families transition into preschool. Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP) are required https://www.parentcenterhub.org/partc/ -
Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and RTI provide interventions in general education classrooms. Students move through tiers based on progress, allowing early identification of learning disabilities https://www.rti4success.org/ -
ESSA replaced NCLB, maintaining accountability but providing states more flexibility. It emphasizes equal opportunities, including students with disabilities, and supports inclusion in general education classrooms https://www.ed.gov/essa