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McCarran Act of 1950
It strengthened laws against espionage, limited free speech for national security reasons, and allowed for the investigation and deportation of immigrants accused of promoting Communism or engaging in subversive activities. -
Brown v. Board of Education
In this milestone decision, the Supreme Court ruled that separating children in public schools on the basis of race was unconstitutional. -
Rise of the Open Classroom Movement
The open classroom is marked by learning areas, often without walls. Students are free to move from area to area, learn at their own pace and enjoy unstructured periods of study. Influencers: Jerome Bruner and John Dewey's influence on progressive education. -
Engel v. Vitale
Engel v. Vitale was an important Supreme Court decision policing the boundaries of church and state. There, the New York State Board of Regents authorized public schools to recite a short, voluntary prayer at the beginning of each school day. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Act prohibited discrimination in public accommodations and federally funded programs. It also strengthened the enforcement of voting rights and the desegregation of schools. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the nation's benchmark civil rights legislation, and it continues to resonate in America. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
The act emphasizes equal access to education, aiming to shorten the achievement gaps between students by providing federal funding to support schools with children from impoverished families. Since 1965, ESEA has been modified and reauthorized by Congress several times. -
Bilingual Education Act
The Bilingual Education Act (BEA) of 1968 provided federal grants for school districts to establish educational programs for children with limited English-speaking ability. It was the first time that the U.S. government officially acknowledged that these students needed specialized instruction. -
Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, case in which, on April 20, 1971, the Supreme Court of the United States unanimously upheld busing programs that aimed to speed up the racial integration of public schools in the United States. -
Title IX of the Education Amendments
Title IX provides:
No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. -
Lau v. Nichols
The 1974 Supreme Court case expanded rights for students with limited English proficiency by arguing that English-only instruction to Chinese-speaking students violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 -
FERPA
The passing of the FERPA federal law in 1974 was a crucial step in safeguarding the privacy of student education records. This law, which is still in effect, underscores the importance of protecting student privacy in our educational institutions. -
Multiple Intelligence Theory
Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence theory is popularized. Proposed that intelligence is not a single general ability but a collection of different intelligences, leading to differentiated instruction. -
The Nation at Risk Report
The Nation at Risk Report has been released. It highlights the perceived decline in American educational standards, which has led to widespread educational reforms. -
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Rise of standardized testing
Increasing reliance on standardized tests to measure educational outcomes and accountability. Believed to be a direct result of the Nation at Risk Report. -
Honig v. Doe
Supreme Court case that affirmed the rights of students with disabilities not to be excluded from school for behaviors related to their disabilities. -
The Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act
Mandated that colleges and universities disclose information about graduation rates and campus crime statistics. -
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The Rise of Technology in Education
Integration of computers and the internet in classrooms, reshaping teaching and learning methods.