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Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
The Supreme Court decision which ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, stating that “separate but equal” is not actually equal. Although the case focused on the topic of racial inequality, it laid the foundation for addressing inequalities for other groups like students with disabilities. The ruling highlighted the need for inclusive practices in public education to ensure equity for all learners. Link: -
PARC v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (1971)
The Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children sued the state for denying access to public education to children with intellectual disabilities. The court ruled that students with disabilities had a right to a free public education and that schools must provide tailored programs to meet their needs. This case helped establish and provide the foundation for federal laws like IDEA and reinforced the principle of inclusion. -
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973)
Section 504 was the first federal civil rights law that protected individuals with disabilities and prohibited discrimination in any program or activity that received federal funding. This required public schools to make accommodations like wheelchair ramps, assistive technology, and IEPs. The law played a crucial role in ensuring students with disabilities could participate in their education.
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Education for all handicapped children Act
A Public Law that helps to ensure that all children with disabilities have access to free, public education. The law introduced the idea of individualized education programs (IEPs) which is something that is tailored to meet each student’s unique needs. This law was a turning point for students who had previously been excluded from public schools.
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Mills v. Bd. of Educ. of D.C. (1972)
This lawsuit was brought on behalf of seven children with disabilities who argued that they had been denied access to public education due to budget limitations. The court ruled that a lack of funding was not a valid enough reason to exclude students with disabilities from schools. Mills set an important precedent which emphasized that public education must serve all students.
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Americans with Diabilities Act ( 1990)
The ADA helped to extend the protections of Section 504 to all areas of public life, including schools, workplaces, transportation, and public spaces. This law reinforced the importance of inclusion by ensuring students could access extracurricular activities and general education opportunities without issues. It also paved the way for more inclusive social settings. Link: -
IDEA Amendments of 1997
The amendments to IDEA help emphasize accountability and inclusion so that schools are required to include students with disabilities. The amendments strengthened the focus on helping educate students in general education classrooms alongside their classmates wherever appropriate. This encouraged collaboration between special education and general education teachers to foster inclusive learning environments.
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No child left behind Act (2002)
NCLB required schools to track the progress of all students including those with disabilities through testing. The law also held schools accountable for ensuring that students with disabilities achieved proficiency in these state standards. It encouraged schools to include students with disabilities in general education classrooms and implement support to help them succeed. NCLB reinforced the importance of high expectations for all learners.
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Every student succeeds Act (2015)
Replacing the NCLB, ESSA offers more flexibility to states in how they implement certain principles. It helped to reaffirm the commitment made to educate students with disabilities alongside their classmates in general education classrooms whenever possible. ESSA also provided funding for schools to implement inclusivity and improve teacher training to help support diverse learners. -
Endrew F. v. Douglas County Sch. Dist.(2017)
A Supreme Court decision clarifying that schools must offer students with disabilities more than minimal educational progress under IDEA. It went on to say that schools are required to provide services that allow for meaningful growth and challenging objectives that are tailored to the student’s unique abilities. The ruling raised the standard for what constitutes an appropriate education and emphasized the importance of high expectations for all students.(https://www.oyez.org/cases/2016/15-827)