Inserra-Special Education law and History Interactive timeline by David Inserra

1975 Education for All Handicapped Children Act

dwi7 — 2025-09-15 00:13:19 UTC

The Education for All Handicap Children Act (PL 94-142) the states needed support to protect the rights, meeting the needs and improving results for Handicap Children. This law gave the state's power to put Handicap children in public schools instead of institutions for education. This laid the groundwork for the current school setting that we have for the students. After a lot of debate, it has proven to be successful in the education of the handicap community.

1982 Rowley v. Board of Education

dwi7 — 2025-09-15 00:13:19 UTC

This is an extension of the EHA (1975). This Supreme court case detailed that the school district has to provide a Free Appropriate Public Education (F.A.P.E.). This also started the Individualized Educational Program (IEP). This document is to be reviewed no less than annually and must detail the services to be provided to the student(s). This provides to the parents the right to question and discuss any and all changes to the student's education. It also addressed the idea of Appropriate Public Education. This provides the proverbial roadmap to the students' education and goals. It gets reviewed no less than once a year but can be reviewed at any point with parents' knowledge.

1986 Handicap Children's Protection Act

dwi7 — 2025-09-15 00:13:19 UTC

The Handicap Children's Protection Act (HCPA) brought forth that recovery of reasonable attorney fees would be paid to the parents if they won their case. This also implemented that Parents have the right to speak to the needs of their children when it comes to representation within the EHA from 1975. This brought forth more access to legal representation in matters that involve the EHA and other Anti-discrimination laws. This makes it easier for parents to take a more forward role in their students' education. By allowing the parents to recover the attorney fees upon a successful case. It makes it more difficult for schools and educators to ignore the students with special needs.

1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

dwi7 — 2025-09-15 00:13:19 UTC

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) did not allow discrimination against any person with a disability. The definition of Disability is broad in its own right. A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. This provided the ability for everyone to be treated as equals in the eyes of the law. No one can be discriminated against as long as reasonable accommodations can be made to assist them in achieving the same task as a regular person.

2004 Individuals with Disabilites Education Act (IDEA)

dwi7 — 2025-09-15 00:13:19 UTC

This guarantees that all students with a disability receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the classroom with the Least restrictive Environment (LRE). This entitled children from the ages of 3-21 a public education while receiving the instruction that they needed to make it advantageous to them. By using an IEP and allowing Parents to make the decision with the IEP team and education professionals to do what is best for that student's education. This means most to students and teachers with special needs. This allows the parents and students the opportunity to learn in the best way possible. If it is a regular classroom (gen ed.) or in a resource room.

2015 Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

dwi7 — 2025-09-15 00:13:19 UTC

This replaced the No child left behind act (NCLBA). It gives the states more flexibility to administer testing and academic standards. This focuses on equity for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. This is huge in the realm of Special Education. This allows the students to test in their own time allotment and do their absolute best without fear of receiving a failing grade.