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Pencil and Paper
Pencils and paper began to be mass produced and more easily accessible, replacing the usage of slate in schools and making education easier. -
Joliet Junior College
Joliet Junior college opened in Joliet, Illinois. This was the first ever community college to open in the U.S. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
This court ruling integrated schools. Segregated schools were deemed "inherently unequal" and a violation of the 14th amendment. This changed public education by creating equal schooling for all children, regardless of their race. -
ACT
The ACT test was first administered by a University of Iowa. This test is still used in many schools today and was designed to test practical knowledge rather than cognitive reasoning. -
Civil Rights Act is Passed
The Civil Rights Act becomes law. It prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion or national origin. It keeps students from being denied equal education oppritunities. -
Bilingual Act
The Bilingual Act addressed the unique educational needs of students with limited English speaking ability. -
Title 9
This protected students from being discriminated against by sex in public education. It is still in place and ensures equality for students in the classroom and gives the equal opportunities. It applies to all schools receiving federal funding. -
ADA
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) becomes law. Essentially a civil rights law, it prohibits discrimination against those with disabilities in all areas, including education. -
Georgia starts to offer universal preschool
More than half of the state's four year olds are now enrolled. -
Columbine Shooting
Two Columbine High School students go on a killing spree that leaves 15 dead and 23 wounded at the Littleton, Colorado school, making it the nations' deadliest school shooting incident. Though schools tighten safety procedures as a result of the Columbine massacre, school shootings continue to occur at an alarming rate. -
No Child Left Behind
President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 into law with overwhelming bipartisan support. This act mandated that all students hit arbitrary scores on standardized tests instead of ensuring equal opportunities. No Child Left Behind has failed. -
Too-Much-Testing
President Obama joins the "too-much-testing" movement as his new plan calls for limiting "standardized testing to no more than 2% of class time." -
Trans Rights
The federal government tells school districts "to allow transgender students to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity." Though the directive is not a law, districts that do not comply could face lawsuits or lose federal aid. -
Trump takes trans rights
Donald Trump rescinds the Obama administration's controversial transgender bathroom directive. The issue may eventually be decided by the courts. -
March For Our Lives
Hundreds of thousands of students from across the nation join the March for Our Lives protest in Washington , DC as well as many other major cities across the U.S. in demand for stricter gun laws after the Parkland High School shooting. -
Coronavirus Closes Schools
On march 11th The World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic. 2 days later Donald Trump declares a national emergency and states begin to close schools
