| Brown v. Topeka, Kansas, Board of Education (1954) | Segregation of students by race was deemed unconstitutional--education is a right that must be available to all on equal terms. |
| Hobsen vs. Hansen (1969) | The doctrine of equal educational opportunity is part of the law of due process, and denying an equal educational opportunity is a violation of the Constitution. |
| Diana v. California State Board of Education (1970) | Children tested for potential placement in a special education program must be assessed in their native or primary language. |
| Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens v. Commonwealth of Pensylvania (1971). | Pensylvania schools must provide a free public education to all school-age children with mental retardation. |
| Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia (1972) | Declared exclusion of individuals with disabilities from free appropriate public education to be a violation of the due-process and equal protection clauses of the fourteenth ammendment to the Constitution. |
| Public Law 93-112 Vocational, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 | Individuals with disabilities cannot be excluded from participation in, denied benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any program or activity recieving federal financial assistance. |
| Public Law 93-380, Educational Amendments Act (1974) | Financial aid was provided to the states for implementing programs for children who are exceptional, including the gifted and talented. Due-process requirements were established to protect the rights of children with disabilities and their families in special education placement decisions. |
| Public Law 94-142, Part B of the Education of the Handicapped Act (1975) | A free and appropriate education must be provided for all children with disabilities in the United States. |
| Larry P. v. Riles (1984) | IQ testing as a basis for placing African-American students in special education programs as mentally retarded was found to be discriminating. California schools were ordered to reduce the disproportionate numbers of African American students in such classes. |
| Public Law 99-457, Education of the Handicapped Act ammendments (1986) | A new authority extended free and appropriate education to all children with disabilities ages 3 to 5 and provided a new early intervention program for families and toddlers. |
| Public Law 99-372, Handicapped Children's Protection Act (1986) | Reimbursement of attorney's fees and expenses was given to parents who prevail in administrative proceedings or court actions. |
| Honig v. Doe (1988) | The court ruled that if a student is excluded from school for more than 10 days, it is considered a change in placement and all procedures required to make such a change must be followed. In the same decision, it was clarified that brief removal from school may be permitted in emergency situations. |
| Public Law 101-336, Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) | Civil rights protections were provided for people with disabilities in private-sector employment, all public services, and public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications. |
| Public Law 101-476, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (1990) | The education of the Handicapped Act amendments were renamed IDEA. Two new categories of disability were added: autism and traumatic brain injury. IDEA requires that an individualized transition plan be developed no later than age 16 as a component of the IEP process. Rehabilitation and social work services are included as related services. |