Edited by: Lizzie Axler 12/10/21

Timeline: Special Education

Laws
1973: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
(Public Law 93-112)

It is illegal to discriminate against anyone solely do to their

disability. It is illegal to deny benefits and participation
solely do to a disability as well. Individuals with disabilities
have the same legal rights and admission to programs and
services. Individuals with disabilities related to speech,
manual, and sensory skills are legally entitled to
supplementary tools and other aids.
(Ysseldyke & Algozzine, 2006, p.11-15)
1975: Education of All Handicapped Children Act of
1975 (Public Law 94-142)

Students with disabilities have legal rights to the following:

- Free and appropriate public education (FAPE);

- Least restrictive environment (LRE); and
- Approved and appropriate accommodations and
modifications during assessments, and an individualized
education plan (IEP). - Parents have the right to view their
child’s school records.
- Parents must be informed before any changes are made
in the student’s educational placement, classes, or
programs.
- Parents may counter their child’s records and any
changes placement.
(Ysseldyke & Algozzine, 2006, p.11-24)
1986: Amendments to the Education of All Handicapped
Children Act (Public Law 99-457)

All legal rights provided under Education of All

Handicapped Children Act, including FAPE, LRE, IEP, and
parameters of parental involvement, are equally provided
to special needs preschool children.
(Ysseldyke & Algozzine, 2006, p.11)
1990: Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
of 1990 (Public Law 101-336)

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of

1990 approves and reinforces all aspects of the Education
for All Handicapped Children Act. IDEA expands the
disability categories by adding autism and traumatic brain
injury. Also, IDEA provides the legally referred to definition
of transition services while making assistive technology
more accessible.

The following are the 13 disabilities listed under IDEA:

(Individuals are eligible for accommodations, modifications, and/or services needed.)
- autism
- deaf-blindness
- deafness
- emotional disturbance
- hearing impairment
- intellectually disability
- multiple disabilities
- orthopedic impairment
- other health inpairment
- specific learning disability
- speech or language disability
- traumatic brain injury
- visual impairment (including blindness)
(Ysseldyke & Algozzine, 2006, p.12-27)
1990: Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
(Public Law 101-336)

American With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits

discrimination of special needs individuals in adulthood.
ADA prohibits discrimination for special needs adults in the
following categories:

- Transportation
- Telecommunication services
- Government agencies, services, and occupation.
(Ysseldyke & Algozzine, 2006, p.12)
1997: Amendments to the Individuals With Disabilities
Education Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-17)

In 1997, amendments were made to the Individuals With

Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This amendment
provides greater detail about who needs to be present
during Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings and
different paperwork and procedures which are required for
IEP documentation. Also, IDEA’s disciplinary standards
and regulations were updated. In addition, states are
responsibly for tracking and documenting the
performance, growth, and evolution of each special needs
student.
(Ysseldyke & Algozzine, 2006, p.12-29)
2001: No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
(Public Law 107-110)

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is a law that applies to not

only special needs students, but all students within the
United States. NCLB requires that students from 3rd to 8th
grade (including an additional year in high school) take an
annual government designed assessment in mathematics
and reading. The Reading First and Early Reading First
programs allows NCLB to provide tier II and tier III
interventions in all areas under the reading umbrella.
Under NCLB, parents are entitled to flexibility when
placement of their child’s school district and school choice.
Finally, NCLB reinforces the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act (ESEA), which provides funds the primary
and secondary education along with other contributions to
the American education system.
(Ysseldyke & Algozzine, 2006, p.12)
2004: Individuals With Disabilities Education
Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA)

It is legally required that students with disabilities be

taught by teachers who are highly qualified, have obtained
a state teaching license, and certified in special education
as well as core subjects. The improvement act of IDEA
allows for 15% of special education funds to go to general
education, in efforts to assist special needs children who
have not been identified yet. Also, new methods are used
to recognize and classify special needs students. Another
improvement is that now discrepancy rates are not
required when recognizing and classifying special needs
students. In addition, IEP short term goals are no longer
required, however long term IEP’s are permitted.
Transition plans must be thought out and expressed with
the end goal in place. Lastly, each school must identify a
parent replacement for disabled students who are
homeless or the responsibility of the court of law.
(Ysseldyke & Algozzine, 2006, p.13-33)

Source:

https://www.specialedusa.com/post/timeline-special-education-laws