This is a brief summary of some important events that helped shape the world of special education.

1. H I L L A R Y K E E N
HISTORY OF SPECIAL
EDUCATION

2. BEATTIE VS BOARD OF EDUCATION
• 13 year old Beattie had a physical disability and left
teachers unsure of what to do with him
• Quoted in the case the teacher claimed he was
“nausiating”, “depressing” and “distracting” terminology
you wouldn’t hear today when discussing a student with
special needs let alone any student
• School removed student and court case ruled in school’s
favor
• This triggered a change in focus to rights of students to
an education and a disability or impairment should not
be a reason to prevent them from doing so.

3. COMPULSORY PUBLIC EDUCATION
• By the 1920’s and 1930’s compulsory public education
became mandated in most states, leaving schools pressured
to have all grades move together like an “assembly line” to
finish at a certain time and all be prepared for the workforce
once finished with school.
• This left a problem for sudent’s with special needs because
they couldn’t keep up with the class.
• These students were then segregated into their own class and
kept together thinking this was the best possible solution for all.
• By the 1950’s most schools had special education programs in
place, but these students were still viewed as incapable. They
would tend to activities like basket weaving to practice their
“manual skills”
• Researchers viewed this as a huge problem because needs
were not being met.

4. PARENT ADVOCACY
• Around the same time as schools began to implement
special education programs, parents began to come
together and become more involved in their students
academic plans.
• Organizations were set up and used the term “retarded
and retardation” in the name of some of these
organizations, which is no longer used.
• Because of parent advocacy, students are in the least
restrictive environment now because of IEP’s and
keeping them in general ed. classes.
• Traditional practices were questioned and the focus
transitioned into getting these student’s needs publically
recognized. Lobbyists also got involved and became a
huge voice for those with special needs.

5. BROWN VS. BOARD OF EDUCATION
• A court case that centered around the segregation
of African Americans, opened the door to focus on
people with special needs as well.
• 14th Amendment- cannot discriminate against any
group of people.
• The introduction of the term “integration” came to
surface and no group could be left our from a
public education or be segregated with those alike.
• This changed society’s view of special education
because they began to see that the education of
those with special needs was much more than just a
moral obligation, it was those student’s civil right.

6. ESEA
• Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
• Law provided to ensure that all students have an
equal access to a high-quality education.
• Under this:
• All students must be assessed to see progress
• AYP’s and AMO’s
• Teaching practices and instructional programs must be
heavily researched and based on a postive strong impact
for student learning.
This act reinforces students, parents, teachers and students
that students with special needs can still achieve a level of
academic success comparable to most students

7. PARC VS. PENNSYLVANNIA
• 1971 – state agreed to provide a public education
for children with “mental retardation”
• Terminology has changed thus then and the term
down syndrome is used instead.
• This case set the standard that special needs
students need to be in the least restricted
environment possible and must be offered an
individualized education.
• This opened the eyes to many that students with
special needs should be viewed as human beings,
because they are and they can exist in a public
educational setting and thrive.

8. MILLS VS. BOARD OF EDUCATION
• Quickly following PARC, this court case established
the fundamental Constitutional right to education
of all children with disabilities.
• this case required schools to provide services
regardless to the district’s ability to pay
• This contributes greatly to lessening restriction in a
classroom for special needs students because
funding became mandatory.

9. IDEA
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
• Requires schools:
• To serve the educational needs of special needs students
• To evaluate those with suspected learning disabilities or
other disabilities
This act gives parents a large voice and is an opportunity to
get teachers, school administrators, parents and aids to work
together to come up with a common goal and plan for each
individual student with special needs
There are 13 different kinds of disabilities that are covered by
IDEA giving these students an opportunity to be in the least
restricted environment and learn alongside students without
special needs.