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

Which case laid the groundwork for future lawsuits about education rights for children with disabilities?

1. Mills v. Board of Education

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

3. Wyatt v. Stickney

4. Public Law 93-112

The correct answer is: Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

The case that laid the groundwork for future lawsuits regarding education rights for children with disabilities is indeed the one you're referring to. The Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania established pivotal principles concerning the right to a public education for all children with disabilities, stating that it is a constitutional right for children to receive an appropriate education tailored to their needs. This case set a crucial precedent, affirming that states have the responsibility to provide educational opportunities and that they cannot exclude children from the educational system based on their disabilities. Mills v. Board of Education also played an important role in the evolution of special education rights, addressing similar issues, but the Pennsylvania case was foundational in defining the scope of educational access for children with disabilities. In contrast, cases like Wyatt v. Stickney and laws such as Public Law 93-112, while significant in their own contexts, do not specifically focus solely on education rights or precede the legal developments that stemmed from the Pennsylvania case in the same direct way.