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Harvard College
Harvard College becomes the first institution of higher education in the American Colonies. It was built in Newtowne (present day Cambridge), Massachusetts. -
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Colonial Era
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The Massachusetts Law of 1647
The law, also called Old Deluder Satan Act, stated that towns consisting of 50 families or more were required to hire a schoolmaster to teach the children to read and write. It also stated that towns consisting of 100 families or more should have a Latin grammar school master to prepare students to attend Harvard College. -
Two-Track Educational System
Thomas Jefferson proposes a two-track educational system, with different tracks for "the laboring and the learned." -
The Ordinance of 1784
Divided the Western territories into ten separate territories that would eventually become states and have the same rights as the thirteen original states. -
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Emergent Nation Era
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The Bill of Rights
While the Bill of Rights makes no mention of education, the Tenth Amendment singularly gives states any power not previously assigned to the federal government, thus making education a state issue. -
The Dartmouth Decision
The Supreme Court found in favor of Dartmouth allowing private schools to remains in control of their institutions while still receiving state funds. This caused many states to redirect their funds to public institutions. -
The Morrill Act
The act, also known as the "Land Grant Act," was signed into law by President Lincoln. The Morrill Act bestowed federal land to members of the Congressional Delegation. The land was to be sold and the profits used to establish public colleges which focused on agriculture and the mechanical arts. Some of the institutions which were created by the Morrill Act include MIT and Cornell University. -
Department of Education
The Department of Education is created to help states establish effective school systems. It was demoted to an office status in 1868 and did not regain Cabinet status again until 1979. -
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Transformation Era
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The Hatch Act of 1887
Established a network of agricultural experiment stations connected to land grant universities under The Morrill Act. -
The Second Morrill Act
This second Act targeted the southern states who up to this point had not complied with land grant support for African American institutions. The Second Morrill Act provided financial support instead of land to build colleges that would overlook the race barriers. This funding led to the creation of 16 historically black land-grant colleges. -
The Smith-Lever Act
Established a system of cooperative extension services connected to land grant universities and provided federal funds for extension activities. -
AAUP
American Association of University Professors is founded and declares academic freedom and tenure. -
The Smith-Hughes Act
Established to provide federal funding for agricultural and vocational education. -
The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944
Also called the GI Bill, it was signed into law by President Roosevelt. One of the benefits of the Bill was cash payments of tuition and living expenses to attend university, high school, or a vocational education school. Eight million World War II veterans took advantage of the GI Bill, with more than two-million attending colleges or universities. -
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Mass Higher Education Era
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Educational Testing Services Founded
ETS who developed standardized tests, such as the GRE, TOEFL, and PRAXIS was founded. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
Supreme Court decides the separate but equal paradigm has no place in higher education.
http://www.uscourts.gov/Home.aspx -
National Defense Education Act
To compete with the Soviets and in reaction to the launching of Sputnik, President Eisenhower led this process to provide Federal aid for science, foreign language education, and to provide forgiveable loans for higher education costs for prospective science teachers. -
ACT First Administered
College aptitude test that is a direct competitor to the SAT was first administered. -
Vocational Education Act
Provided grants to states to maintain, improve, and develop vocational-technical education programs. -
Higher Education Act
Increased federal money given to universities, created scholarships, gave low-interest loans for students, and established a National Teachers Corps. -
Title IX
A portion of the education amendments of 1972, banning sex discrimination in all education programs receiving Federal aid. -
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Consolidation Era
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Department of Education Organization Act
Established the cabinet-level department meant to improve coordination, management, and accountability of Federal education programs. -
Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act
Designed to improve the quality of technical schools and to aid the economy. Reauthorized and updated in 1998 and 2006. -
The Clery Act
Requires colleges to report crimes near and on their campuses by 01 October of every year. -
Student Loan Reform Act
Reformed the student aid process by allowing students to choose from a variety of repayment options. https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/2055 -
Period: to
Contemporary Era
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American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Helped states that were struggling to spend on education by providing relief and block grants. -
Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013
Amended the Higher Education Act of 1965. Established interest rates for new loans made on or after July 1st, 2013.
