The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965: Designed to improve educational opportunities for students attending the poorest schools in the United States. https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/laws-preschool-grade-12-education/esea
Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973: Prohibits discrimination against students with disabilities in federally funded programs and entitles those with disabilities to a free and appropriate education. https://www.eeoc.gov/rehabilitation-act-1973-original-text
Education Amendments Act of 1974: Grants federal funds to states to establish or continue funding programming for learners who were exceptional https://mn.gov/mnddc/parallels2/pdf/70s/74/74-TEA-RMG.pdf
Education For All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 (The Mainstreaming Law): Defines the term least restrictive environment. It further requires states to provide free and appropriate public education for children with disabilities between the ages of 5 and 18. https://www.gao.gov/products/113316
Education of Handicapped Act Amendments of 1986: Requires that states extend free and appropriate education to children with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 5. https://www.congress.gov/bill/99th-congress/senate-bill/2294
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA): Ensures that this group of individuals would be provided with equal opportunities for employment, public services, accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications. https://www.ada.gov/law-and-regs/ada/
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 (IDEA): Requires states to provide bilingual education programs for students with disabilities and to educate students with disabilities for transition to employment. https://tea.texas.gov/academics/special-student-populations/special-education/idea.pdf
Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1997: Allowed Special Education staff members, working in mainstream settings, to assist general education students when needed.https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/5
No Child Left Behind of 2002: Requires States to administer math assessments in Grades 3 through 8 and once in high school, each state determines which test to use, manual testing annual testing, report cards, and faculty qualifications https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-bill/1