Influential Laws in Education for Teachers
Laws concerning education are some of the most influential and controversial laws in existence because they affect the learning experiences of millions of students. Many education laws such as No Child Left Behind and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act have far-reaching consequences and it is important that teachers and other citizens understand what these laws are and what they are intended to accomplish.
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No Child Left Behind
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No Child Left Behind is one of the most influential and far-reaching education laws on the books today. NCLB was passed in 2001 and has four basic tenets. Schools are held to higher levels of accountability and there are consequences for not making sufficient progress. NCLB also gives states increased flexibility in how they use federal money and emphasizes using effective curriculum and programs. The law also gives parents more choices in where their children attend school and for children to transfer out of schools that consistently perform poorly.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
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The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was enacted in 1975 as Public Law 94-142 and has since been renewed and amended as IDEA. The most recent major update to IDEA was in 2004. IDEA mandates that students with developmental disabilities must be provided with a free and appropriate public education that is designed to meet their needs. The law defines the requirements for documenting and planning that education and for ensuring that student needs are met.
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IDEA Part C
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The most recent update to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is often known simply as Part C. Part C provides grants to states that establish and maintain qualifying early intervention programs. These programs serve children from birth to 3 years old who have disabilities or are at risk of being delayed. The goal of early intervention programs is to address the physical, cognitive and social challenges for very young children with disabilities and to support the families of these children.
Civil Rights Act of 1964
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Everyone over a certain age likely remembers when public schools were officially desegregated. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 protected people from discrimination based on color, race or national origin in activities that receive any amount of federal assistance. This includes public schools, college financial aid offices, discipline and other areas of student treatment or guidance. This law also mandates that discriminating against students with limited English proficiency is also illegal.
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