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Common School Movement
Horace Mann lead the Common School Movement in the 1830s. He fought for a free public education for every child in the United States regardless of social class, religion, gender, ethnicity, or country or origin. This movement meant a public education for every child. -
Roberts Vs. The City of Boston
This was a court case seeking to end racial discrimination in Boston public schools. Parents explained how their children had been denied enrollment in all Boston schools except the segregated Smith School. However a state statute existed that allowed any student unlawfully excluded from public school to recover damages. The Roberts case was unsuccessful because authorities reasoned that special provisions had been made for "colored" students to have a school. -
Brown Vs. Board of Education
The outcome was unanimously declared that racial segregation in public schools is against the constitution. Brown v. Board of Education was one of the cornerstones of the civil rights movement, and helped establish the precedent that “separate-but-equal” education and other services were not, in fact, equal at all.
History.com Editors. (2021, January 19). Brown v. Board of Education. HISTORY. https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/brown-v-board-of-education-of-topeka -
Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act ended the discrimination in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or nation origin. Under the Civil Rights Act were two very important statutes for education. Title VI was implemented to prevent discrimination in public schools based off of race, religion, color, or nationality. Title IX prohibits any discrimination based off of sex in public schools. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
The purpose of ESEA was to provide additional resources for vulnerable students. ESEA offered new grants to districts serving low-income students, federal grants for textbooks and library books, created special education centers, and created scholarships for low-income college students.
Brenchley, Cameron. “What Is ESEA?” ED.gov Blog, 8 Apr. 2015, blog.ed.gov/2015/04/what-is-esea/. -
Bilingual Education Act of 1968
This program was established for children whose first language was not English. It is important for those working with the students to gain an understanding of the growth of bilingual education in the United States, so that they are better informed when faced with current issues in the education. -
Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974:
This helped further the cause of racial equality in the public school system. It made discrimination against faculty, administrators, staff, and students on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, or color illegal. -
Education of All Handicapped Children Act of 1975
This became the basis for the educational rights of children and youth with disabilities. It requires public schools to provide appropriate educational services for all children with disabilities between ages 3 and 21. Educational Rights for Children With Disabilities. (2020, May 27). CS Mott Children’s Hospital | Michigan Medicine. -
Native American Languages Act
In as early as 1864, congress made it illegal for Native Americans to be taught in their native languages. Native children as young as four years old are taken from their parents and sent to Bureau of Indian Affairs off-reservation boarding schools.
Finally, in 1990 the Native American Languages Act was passed to preserve the right of Native Americans to their native languages and cultures. The United States needs to preserve and protect these rights of Native Languages. -
No Child Left Behind Act
The major focus of No Child Left Behind is to close student achievement gaps by providing all children with a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education. Schools are required to bring all students to a "proficient" level on yearly state tests.
