Which law ensured that children with disabilities could attend public schools?

The Education for All Handicapped Children Act is the pivotal law that mandated school systems to provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to children with disabilities. Enacted in 1975, this legislation recognized that children with disabilities had the right to an education and required public schools to accommodate their special needs. It laid the foundation for inclusion and access to education for all children, regardless of their physical or mental challenges.

The act not only facilitated enrollment in public schools but also promoted the development of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) tailored to meet the unique needs of each child. This legislation marked a significant shift in the educational landscape, ensuring that children with disabilities could not be denied access to the quality of education available to their peers.

While the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a reauthorization of this original law and expanded its provisions, it was the Education for All Handicapped Children Act that first established the principle that children with disabilities have the right to attend public school. The other options refer to important educational reforms and acts, but they do not specifically originate the right for children with disabilities to access public education in the way that this act does.