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Colonists Establish basic schools
During the 17th and 18th Centuries, the English became the majority of the colonists. They established primarily religious schools based on the model of education from Europe. These schools were the first in the nation and served as the basis for schools to come. -
Separation of Church and State
In 1787, the United States Constitution was signed. This document guaranteed a separation of church and state. This created the foundation for a secular state sponsored education system to replace the religious based ones that were commonplace. -
Compulsory Education Laws
Largely influenced by Horace Mann and his urge that everyone should attend school, it was acknowledged that by better educating the poorest of the nation, the nation would progress. This resulted in states passing laws requiring all children to attend school. By 1918, all states had compulsory education laws in place. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
Through much of the Nation’s history, there was a strong separation of races that created a great deal of inequality. The 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown vs. the Board of Education declared separate is not equal. This opened the door for civil rights equality across the nation. -
Internet and Virtual Classrooms
With the advent of computers and the internet during the 80s and 90s, a new approach to teaching came into existence. Now a low cost form of education exists that is accessible to more people in more places. This holds the potential to help bridge education gaps that exist across race and regional lines.
