Special education has indeed changed since the time it was first initiated. Such support given to students with disabilities as existed before had broadened its way into becoming a system, which endeavored to achieve an equal opportunity and adapted learning for all different types of learners, not minding the abilities. Understanding history and special education better is a good way in which we can come to realize how far we are but how much further we have to travel as a special education lawyer can share.
In this blog, our friends at K Altman Law will guide you through an in-depth timeline of the most significant points in the history of special education-from early initiatives to modern developments.
Early Beginnings: The 1800s
Children with disabilities were prevented from participating in mainstream educational channels in the early 19th century. There was hardly an understanding or support mechanism for such students at that time.
1817 – First School For The Deaf In The U.S.
The American School for the Deaf was established in Hartford, Connecticut. It was the first school in the United States that was specifically built for the exclusive education of deaf children. Before this institution, children with disabilities had no institutional settings that were specifically established to provide them with the necessary education; therefore, this served as a good stride.
1848 – School For Students With Intellectual Disabilities
Dr. Samuel Howe founded the Perkins Institution for the Blind, and then continued by opening a school for intellectually disabled students. The entire approach to education finally was done differently with the students that had disabilities.
1900s — Early 20th Century Progress
There were more efforts on special education during the 1900s, though still not possible in many states. Most of the efforts during this period focused on having separate schools or programs for disabled students.
1918 – Compulsory Education Laws
All U.S. states have implemented laws requiring children to attend school by 1918. However, most schools didn’t have programs for their students with disabilities, and many were left out of public education.
1922 – Council For Exceptional Children
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) was established by several educators. This was one of the first organizations that advocated on behalf of disabled students and to provide professional support for teachers. The CEC is still an important entity in special education today.
1954 – Brown V. Board Of Education
While Brown v. Board of Education is perhaps most renowned as a landmark case regarding issues of racial segregation, the judgments also actually paved the way for equality in the classroom. The ruling touched off debate over how students with disabilities were being excluded from public education, calling for more inclusive practices.
1960s And 1970s — Significant Legal Victories
These two decades-the 1960s and 1970s-were a very important time for special education because of several landmark laws passed that changed forever the way schooling would be provided to students who were defined as being disabled.
1965 – Elementary And Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
The ESEA was passed to ensure that the federal budget was allocated to schools, most especially those that catered for low-income families. This was the first legislation wherein the government began addressing the needs of disabled students by providing funding allocations for special education programs.
1973 – Section 504 Rehabilitation Act
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 protected students with disabilities. Section 504 of the law prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities in institutions that received federal funding. This meant that schools had to allocate space for such students and provide equal opportunities for education.
1975 — Education For All Handicapped Children Act EAHCA
It was 1975 and, through this law, America experienced the landmark occurrence in special education history. The Education for All Handicapped Children Act, subsequently known as Public Law 94-142, provided for free and appropriate public education for every public school of each handicapped child. This is what shaped the very foundation of today’s IEP and LRE notion.
1986 – Early Intervention Programs
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act was amended to add services for 3 to 5 years of age. This then meant that very young children with disabilities could get early intervention services-thus getting the kind of support in their lives even before school.
1990 – IDEA, Individuals With Disabilities Education Act
In 1990, Congress enacted the IDEA and replaced the EAHCA. The law merely reaffirmed the rights of children with disabilities to a free, appropriate public education. It also established some new elements, including transition services, which would help students make that crucially important transition from school to life after school. In addition, it separated out the special education categories for autism and traumatic brain injury.
1997 – IDEA Amendments
The IDEA was further amended in 1997 to ensure that students with disabilities participate in statewide assessments and benefit from general education instruction as much as their non-disabled peers. This was a great inclusion move towards disability mainstreaming to explore equal opportunities among peers.
2001 – No Child Left Behind Act NCLB Act
The NCLB Act was approved in 2001 as a law to improve academic success among students, with one falling under the disability category. School outcomes had to be measured for all students, with those in special education programs not exempted, and schools had to be held accountable for their academic performance.
2004 – IDEA Reauthorization
This time, it was again about the accessibility of students with disabilities to the general education curriculum. In this reauthorization, inclusion of highly qualified special education teachers in legislation ensured that this was streamlined while creating and managing IEPs.
2015 – Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
The ESSA replaced the No Child Left Behind Act, gave back much authority to the states on the matter of education standards and responsibility for outcomes, but still includes reporting and accounting data on students with disabilities’ performance and the academic progress of students with disabilities as state requirements.
2017 – Endrew F. V. Douglas County School District
The Endrew F. case was another great victory for students of special education. The U.S. Supreme Court said that public schools have to do more than provide minimal educational progress for a child with a disability. In other words, they must provide an education which enables the child to make meaningful progress under the circumstances.
2020s – Digitalization And E-Learning
The pandemic forced schools to swing towards virtual learning, a totally new scenario that created a new set of challenges for students with disabilities. But it was also a big impetus to getting the right support for students with disabilities even when separated by distance.
A Road Toward Greater Inclusion
The history of special education is a journey toward greater inclusion, rights, and support for students with disabilities. An absolute exclusion from formal education that existed in the early 1800 eventually became today’s legal guarantees to get a free and appropriate education.
But the journey isn’t over. With the advancement of technology and learning more about all the different disabilities that exist, there’s always time to do better. The purpose is still the same: give each student, regardless of his or her ability, a chance to learn, grow, and succeed. If your student is not received the treatment they need at school, contact a lawyer near you for help.