The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act at 50: Successes, Possibilities, and Challenges

Overview & Synopsis

In 1954, the Supreme Court's ruling in "Brown v. Board of Education" set the stage for the passage of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. On November 29, 1975, President Gerald Ford signed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act into law, transforming public education in the United States. In 1990, the name of the EAHCA was changed to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The IDEA defines three dimensions of a free appropriate public education: procedural, substantive, and implementation. Over time, the IDEA's purpose shifted from access to accountability with greater emphasis on the general education curriculum and the integration of evidence, law, and practice. Administrators must ensure that individualized education programs are educationally meaningful, legally compliant, and faithfully implemented with teachers focusing on measurable goals, progress monitoring, and alignment with the general education curriculum.