What is the history of the special education movement in the United States?
In the 1960’s, the Federal government took the lead in providing a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) for children with disabilities. What followed were a series of federally funded initiatives and state laws requiring local agencies to provide special education services for students with disabilities. Today, IDEA mandates the provision of services for all children with disabilities. For a detailed account of the history of special education in the United States, go to: www.ed.gov/policy/speced/leg/idea/history.html.
