SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and the California Department of Education (CDE) will host a formal celebration recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), signed into law in November 1975. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at the CDE Headquarters in Sacramento.
The IDEA 50th Anniversary Celebration recognizes five decades of ensuring students with disabilities have access to a free appropriate public education. California serves over 800,000 students with disabilities, one of the largest such populations in the nation.
“For 50 years, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act has opened classroom doors and expanded opportunity, affirming that every child, regardless of ability, deserves a free appropriate public education,” Superintendent Thurmond said. “Every student has potential, and the resources provided through IDEA have helped countless students in their academic journeys to realize that. As we celebrate this milestone, we recommit to the promise of IDEA that every student can learn, grow, and thrive.”
Superintendent Thurmond has supported legislation and initiatives to strengthen special education, including efforts to end suspensions for “willful defiance” under Senate Bill 274, a practice that has disproportionately impacted students with disabilities. He has been a longtime advocate for the community schools model, which includes integrated supports that strengthen family and community partnerships and promote mental and behavioral health. Superintendent Thurmond also championed legislation in 2023 that resulted in funding being allocated to expand dyslexia screening. In 2026, one of Superintendent Thurmond’s main priorities is improving literacy outcomes for students with dyslexia.
Over the past 50 years, students with disabilities have moved from exclusion to greater inclusion in general education settings. Graduation rates and post-secondary transition supports have expanded, family engagement structures have strengthened, and interagency collaboration has improved post-school outcomes.
The event honors the progress made in California, acknowledges the partnership of families and educators, and reaffirms CDE’s ongoing commitment to strengthening special education systems statewide. IDEA is a landmark federal civil rights law that guarantees students with disabilities access to a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.
This event is part of ongoing statewide recognition that started with field partners since November 2025. The program will feature state leadership, system partners, family perspectives, and student voices.
WHEN: Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Superintendent Thurmond expected to speak after 12 p.m.)
WHERE: California Department of Education, 1430 N St, Sacramento, CA 95814 (State Board Room 1101)