Special Education Timeline

By sgdavis

  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

    This act prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in federally funded programs, including public education. It mandates equal opportunities for students with disabilities, requiring accomodations and services to meet their educational needs. Although it is similar to IDEA, it differs in the evaluation processes, parental consent, and enforcement mechanisms.

  • Family and Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA)

    This law gives parents the right to have access to their children's educational records and to have information ammended if it's deemed incorrect. The law protects privacy by requiring written permission to share information from a child's educational records to anyone other than a select group with legitmate needs to be able to review the records.

  • Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA)

    Requires all public schools accepting federal funds provide equal access to education for children with physical and/or mental disabilities. The EHA made it mandatory for public schools to evaluate children with disabilities and create individualized educational plans that emulate the educational experiences of non-disabled students while accomodating their unique needs.

  • The Handicapped Children's Protection Act (HCPA)

    This act was created to instate provisions not covered by the EHA. For example, the EHA does not directly address legal cost relief available for parents who prevail in lawsuits based on violations of EHA provisions.

  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

    This act protects students with disabilities from discrimination, requiring public schools to provide inclusive programs and services. Similar to Section 504, the ADA extends coverage to private schools and postsecondary institutions, ensuring accessibility and reasonable accomodations. Parents and individuals associated with students with disabilities are also protected under the ADA, prohibiting retaliation for exercising rights.

  • Elementary and Secondary Act

    Commonly known as the No Child Left Behind Act, protects students from low-income families and students with disabilities. Calls for schools to be accountable for academic performance of all students, whether or not they had disabilities.

  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

    Guarantees a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to students with disabilities. IDEA outlines minimun requirements for special education programs and provides resources for parents and educators.

  • The Assistive Technology Act

    Provides assistive technology to persons with disabilities so they can more fully participate in education, employment, and daily activities on level playing fields with other people in their communities. Each state recieves a grant to fund Assistive Technology Act Programs that provide services to people with disabilities for their entire lives.

  • Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA)

    This act includes specific defenitions of postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities and the components of the degree they would recieve at postsecondary education. Although it mentions the necessary transition of SWD's there is nothing specifically written to address postsecondary accomodations, academic program adjustments, or disability services provided.

  • Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

    Replaced the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002; gives equal opportunities for all students; school choice; accountability standards, state testing, and adequate yearly progress expectations; gives a greater flexibility for states, districts, and schools in using federal education funds.