FTCE Exceptional Student Education (ESE) K-12 Practice Test

What significant ruling did the case Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (1972) achieve?

1. Established the right to special education for all children with disabilities

2. Guaranteed education for children with a mental age of 5 by first grade

3. Prohibited discrimination in employment based on disability

4. Extended special education services to children with physical disabilities

The correct answer is: Guaranteed education for children with a mental age of 5 by first grade

The case of Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (1972) is significant because it established the right to special education for all children with disabilities. This ruling laid the groundwork for future legislation, ensuring that children with disabilities are entitled to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). The importance of this case cannot be overstated, as it was one of the first to guarantee educational access for individuals with intellectual disabilities, paving the way for subsequent laws and rights, such as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA). The focus of this ruling was not limited to those with a specific mental age or disability but aimed to secure an educational framework for all children with disabilities, thus broadening the understanding of educational rights and protections within the exceptional student education context.