History of Special Education Law

History of Special Education Law

Verna Lippincott

Grand Canyon University: SPE-350

June 26, 2016

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History of Special Education Law

The laws and legislation are in place to allow special education students to attend school. Prior to the laws being enacted, the special education students were either home schooled or attends a private school that was quite expensive. The laws have changed this to make a fair and equal education available to special education students. There were two laws enacted in 1975 to allow children with disabilities to be educated public schools. “The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) establishes a right to public education for all children regardless of disability, while the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires schools provide individualized or special education for children with qualifying disabilities” (Special News). In addition, if a state accepts public funding through the IDEA for education the state must provide children with disabilities that qualify an education. “Although the Act sets forth general requirements states must meet in order to qualify for receipt of federal funds, it does not prescribe the specific educational programs local schools must make available in order to fulfill those requirements” (Harvard Law Review).

Special education has changed throughout the last century in many different ways. Due to different laws that have passed, the way special needs students are treated and taught has changed. There are different stages of special education. One stage is when the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is developed. All special needs students should get the chance to receive an appropriate and free education.

Unfortunately in the past disabled children were isolated from others because they were different. People did not know what to do with them and this made it worse for the students. Opinions and beliefs needed to be changed desperately. Students...