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The Young Ladies Academy opens
The Young Ladies Academy opens in Philadelphia and becomes the first academy for girls in the original 13 colonies/states. -
First Public High School opens
Boston English High School, one of the first public high schools in the U.S., opens. -
Requirements for Education
The state of Massachusetts passes a law requiring towns of more than 500 families to have a public high school open to all students. -
Teacher Education
The first state funded school specifically for teacher education (then known as "normal" schools) opens in Lexington, Massachusetts. -
First "free municipal library"
The Boston Public Library opens to the public. It is the first "free municipal library" in the U.S. -
equality for men and women
The University of Iowa is then first state university "to admit men and women on an equal basis." -
Women's education
Matthew Vassar founds Vassar College, "A pioneer in women's education and liberal arts education in the United States . . ." -
The Department of Education
The Department of Education is created in order to help states establish effective school systems -
Aiding public education
After hearing of the desperate situation facing schools in the south, George Peabody funds the two-million-dollar Peabody Education Fund to aid public education in southern states. -
Public School for the Deaf
Boston creates the first public day school for the deaf. -
The Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 causes bank foreclosures, business failures, and job loss. The economic depression that follows results in reduced revenues for education. Southern schools are hit particularly hard, making a bad situation even worse. -
Taxes to support Public High school
The Michigan State Supreme Court rules that Kalamazoo may levy taxes to support a public high school, setting an important precedent for similar rulings in other states. -
First Medical school for African Americans in the South
Meharry Medical College is founded in Nashville, Tennessee. It is the first medical school in the south for African Americans -
first public community college
Joliet Junior College, in Joliet, Illinois, opens. It is the first public community college in the U.S. -
creation of Junior High schools.
In order to improve high school graduation rates, the Columbus Ohio School Board authorizes the creation of junior high schools. Indianola Junior High School opens that fall and becomes the first junior high school in the U.S. -
Funds for School Transportation
All states have laws providing funds for transporting children to school. -
no religion in the classroom
In the case of McCollum v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court rules that schools cannot allow "released time" during the school day which allows students to participate in religious education in their public school classrooms. -
The ACT Test is first administered
The ACT Test is first administered. -
The Higher Education Act
The Higher Education Act is signed at Southwest Texas State College on November 8. It increases federal aid to higher education and provides for scholarships, student loans, and establishes a National Teachers Corps. -
first magnet school
McCarver Elementary School in Tacoma, Washington becomes the nation's first magnet school
