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Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (Hispanic/Latin Americans)
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican-American War, transferring territories like California, Texas, and Arizona to the U.S. While it guaranteed Mexican citizens citizenship, property rights, and protection, these promises were often ignored. Latinx communities faced systemic discrimination, including segregated, underfunded schools, marking the start of their struggle for educational equality. -
Mendez v. Westminster (Hispanic/Latinx Americans)
This landmark case, brought by Mexican American parents in California, successfully challenged school segregation. The court ruled that separate schools for Mexican American children were unconstitutional. Mendez v. Westminster paved the way for Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. The case was a major victory for Latinx civil rights activists, proving legal challenges could combat educational inequality and highlighting the racialized nature of school segregation. -
Delgado v. Bastrop ISD (Hispanic/Latinx Americans)
After the Mendez ruling, Mexican American students in Texas remained segregated. In Delgado v Bastrop, a federal court ruled that segregating Mexican American students without state law justification violated the Fourteenth Amendment. Though a legal victory, it left a loophole allowing language-based segregation, which schools exploited. Despite its limits, the case was a crucial step toward ending de facto segregation, showing Latinx communities persistence in fighting for equitable education. -
Brown v. Board of Education (African American)
The Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v Board of Education declared racial segregation in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Court ruled 'separate but equal' facilities were inherently unequal. Though legally transformative, many Southern school districts resisted desegregation, and federal enforcement was inconsistent. Still, the case became a base of the civil rights movement, inspiring marginalized communities to fight for equal education. -
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Rise of Nonviolent Civil Rights Organizations (African American)
Organizations like the SCLC, SNCC, and CORE were central to the civil rights movement, particularly in the fight for educational equality. Using nonviolent protests, sit-ins, and demonstrations, they demanded school desegregation and fair practices. Despite facing violent backlash, their actions gained national attention and pressured governments, contributing to key legislation and highlighting school inequality. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott Begins (African American)
On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a White passenger, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The protest lasted over a year and elevated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to national prominence. While centered on transportation, it empowered African Americans to challenge segregation, including education. The boycott showcased the power of nonviolent protest and set the tone for civil rights activism demanding integration and cultural recognition in schools. -
Civil Rights Act Passed (Titles IV & VI) (African American)
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a turning point in American history. Titles IV and VI banned racial discrimination in federally funded schools. Title VI gave the federal government authority to withhold funds from districts that resisted desegregation, enforcing Brown v. Board. This marked a shift in federal involvement, recognizing that equal access to quality education was key to addressing racial inequalities. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) (African American)
As part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 increased federal funding for public education in low-income areas, many serving African American communities historically underfunded due to segregation. It provided resources for teacher training, textbooks, and special programs, reflecting a federal commitment to educational equity and addressing achievement gaps caused by systemic racism and neglect. -
Bilingual Education Act (Title VII) (Hispanic/Latinx Americans)
The Bilingual Education Act of 1968 was the first federal law recognizing the needs of non-English-speaking students, especially Latinx children. It funded bilingual programs, allowing students to learn in their native language while acquiring English. While a legislative victory, opposition grew, with critics claiming it hindered assimilation. Inconsistent implementation left many Latinx students without adequate support. -
BILINGUAL EDUCATION ACT (Asian American)
The Bilingual Education Act of 1968 provided federal funding for students with limited English language proficiency. However, the program was not considered successful because it mainly focused on students living in poverty and neglected to provide help for middle-class limited English students. Also, some districts refused to implement the program like San Francisco ,this led to the Lau v.Nichols case. -
THIRD WORLD LIBERATION FRONT STRIKE (Asian American)
In 1969, the Third World Liberation Front, including the Asian American Political Alliance, led a six-month strike with sit-ins and protests. They demanded a Department of Ethnic Studies, along with greater diversity and representation in students and staff. Their efforts led to the creation of the School of Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State, inspiring campuses nationwide to add ethnic studies programs. -
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ASIAN AMERICAN MOVEMENT (Asian Americans)
The Asian American movement of the 1960s began with a protest against a developer in Chinatown who refused to hire Asians to work on a government funded project. The protesters were demanding social reform and an end to racism against people of Asian heritage. The movement helped dismantle Asian stereotypes and gave Asian Americans more a voice in American politics. -
Indian Education Act (Native American)
The Indian Education Act of 1972 acknowledged that American Indians had unique educational needs and provided federal funding for programs designed to meet the needs of Native American students. The Office of Indian Education was also established in the Department of Education. This was a huge step towards educational equality. -
Rodríguez v. San Antonio Independent School District (Hispanic/Latinx Americans)
In Rodríguez v. San Antonio ISD, Mexican American parents argued that Texas’ school funding system, relying on local property taxes, created vast inequalities. Poor districts serving Latinx students received far less funding than wealthier White districts. Despite clear economic disparities, the Supreme Court ruled education was not a constitutional right, denying federal legal recourse. The case remains a symbol of systemic inequality, reflecting how race and class intersect in school funding. -
Indian Students Granted Freedom of Religion and Culture (Native American)
The students going to the Bureau of Indian Affairs schools were given a bill of rights that was added to The Code of Federal Regulations. The code gave the students a guarantee of a right to an education, freedom from unreasonable search, privacy within reason, a safe place, freedom of religion and due process and several more rights and freedoms. -
LAU V. NICHOLS (Asian American)
The groundbreaking supreme court case of Lau V. Nichols argued that the San Francisco school district had failed to provide an adequate education for 1800 students of Chinese ethnicity who did not speak English. The supreme court ruled that any school that receives federal funding has to provide English language instruction to non-English speaking students or teach them bilingually. This decision led to the creation of the program many of us know as ESOL English as a second language instruction. -
Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act (Native American)
The Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 gave tribes recognized by the government the opportunity to manage federal programs that were managed by the Secretary of the Interior previously. By allowing the tribes to control education programs the curriculum became more culturally relevant and helped students retain their native language. -
Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act (Native American)
The Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act of 1978 gave federal grants to community colleges that were controlled by the tribes. These funds helped support higher education for Native American students. This gave the students more opportunities for educational growth without leaving their tribes and families. -
Native American Language Act (Native American)
The Native American Language Act made it U.S. policy to protect the freedom of Native Americans to use and even develop further their native language. The Act also helped Native speaking teacher candidates become certified without their language being a detriment. The act also recognized Native American languages as official languages of the United States. -
The TEAACH Act (Asian American)
The TEEACH Act of 2021 stands for Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History. The act was passed in Illinois updated the school code to include teaching the History of Asian American events as well as the contributions of Asian Americans to the American Civil Rights movement in the United States.