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

The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (P.L. 94-142) is significant because it was the first legislation to guarantee that children with disabilities have the right to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). This act laid the foundation for ensuring educational rights for children with disabilities, which included not only school-aged children but also extended access to preschool-aged children. The legislation highlighted the need for early intervention and specialized programs that cater to the unique educational needs of preschoolers with disabilities, ensuring they receive the same opportunities for quality education as their non-disabled peers.

While the other acts mentioned may address disability rights or education, they do not specifically extend the same principles of FAPE to preschoolers in the manner that P.L. 94-142 does. The later Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act built upon P.L. 94-142, but the original act was pivotal for establishing those rights at an early age.