Celebrating 50 Years of Creating Inclusive and Supportive Classrooms

Abstract

In 1975, Public Law (PL) 94-142—the precursor to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004), set the stage for creating inclusive and supportive classrooms. Five decades since the initial law was passed, the field of education has made tremendous progress. This includes shifting away from restrictive, reactive, and exclusionary practices to implementing inclusive, proactive, and positive approaches. Other shifts include recognizing growth in social, emotional, and behavioral skills rather than managing behaviors, and valuing student and family partnerships. In this article, we highlight: (a) milestones related to IDEA and students with disabilities in the area of behavior; (b) advances in evidence-based practice to support behavior; (c) implications for practice; and (d) possibilities of an even more inclusive and supportive future for students in the next 50 years.