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

Which case extended the right to special education to all children with disabilities, not just those with mental retardation?

1. Wyatt v. Stickney, 1971

2. Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1972

3. Mills v. Board of Education, 1972

4. Public Law 93-112

The correct answer is: Mills v. Board of Education, 1972

The correct answer is Mills v. Board of Education, 1972. This landmark case was instrumental in extending the right to special education to all children with disabilities, asserting that all students, regardless of the nature or severity of their disabilities, are entitled to a free and appropriate public education. The ruling emphasized the necessity for educational programs tailored to the individual needs of students with disabilities, marking a significant progression in the push for inclusive education. In this case, the court found that public schools could not deny educational services to students with disabilities, addressing the systemic discrimination that had previously left many children without access to appropriate education. This decision built upon earlier movements for the rights of individuals with disabilities and is a cornerstone in the evolution of special education law in the United States. The other options represent different important events in the history of special education but do not specifically address the broader implications for all students with disabilities. Wyatt v. Stickney focused more on the rights of individuals in institutional settings, Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania primarily addressed education for children with mental retardation, and Public Law 93-112 (the Rehabilitation Act of 1973) set forth protections against discrimination but did not directly expand educational rights in the same manner as Mills