Landmark Case Documents

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

• year 1975
• all children with disabilities
• ensure free, appropriate education to meet their unique needs
• prepare them for further education , employment, & independent living
• education providers, parents, and students work together to meet the goals of students IEPs (Individualized Education Plans)

Title IX and Sex Discrimination

• amended 1972; revised 1998
• all people in the U.S. in relation to education programs or activities
• purpose: protect people from being excluded from education programs or activities on the basis of sex
• programs and activities that receive federal funding must operate in a nondiscriminatory manner

Jacob Javits Gifted & Talented Stu Edu Act

• year 1988
• purpose: orchestrate a program that builds and enhance the ability of elementary and secondary schools to meet the special educational needs of gifted and talented students
• focus: identifying and serving underrepresented students in G&T programs; and reducing academic achievement gaps

Title I Impr Ac Achvmt of the Disadvantaged

• year 1965
• purpose: ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education
• goal: at minimum, they should reach proficiency on challenging state academic achievement standards and state academic assessments

Sec 504- Rehabilitation Act 1973-1974

• year 1973
• protects students that have a physical or mental impairment
• students with disabilities are entitled to receive a free appropriate public education from programs and activities that receive federal funding

Lau v. Nichols 414 U.S. 563 (1974)

• January 21, 1974
• San Francisco Unified School District- problem: children with little or no English-speaking ability were not were denied special programs to rectify the English language deficiency
• result:

Lau v. San Francisco Unified School District

• Supreme Court held that the San Francisco Unified School District had violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• October 22, 1976: Consent Decree included a Master Plan that required bilingual-bicultural education for ELL students
• the outdated 1976 Consent Decree was modified
• September 11, 2008 the Court approved the new Master Plan