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First State Board of Education Established
This was the initial movement for public educational opportunities for all students. Horace Mann was appointed as Secretary of Education, and he convinced the public that education should be for all people regardless of race, class, or gender. By believing that schools would become the "great equalizer" by bringing children from different backgrounds together to develop social acceptance and mutual respect, he helped shape education in a new direction. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
This was a huge moment in the civil rights movement and for educational opportunities for African Americans. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that "separate but equal" was unequal. This decision ruled that segregating public school children based on their race kept them from receiving equivalent educational opportunities. African American children would have better educational resources and outcomes if they were able to join racially mixed classrooms. This set the base for educational equality. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94-142)
Children with disabilities were discriminated and ignored. These students have the same rights and are valuable members of society that have gifts and can contribute. Under this Act, all children that have physical, mental, emotional, or other disabilities are entitled to free public education with an individual education program and special education services in the least restrictive learning environment. -
No Child Left Behind Act
This Act helped put pressure on schools to ensure students are learning what they need to succeed and requiring teachers be qualified in the subjects they teach. This leveled the playing field for students with difficulties whether financial, race, or disability. The No Child Left Behind Act held requires schools to be accountable and improve achievement gaps among different student populations. All students should be performing at grade level in language arts, math, and science. -
Race to the Top
This grant aimed at closing the achievement gap and increasing graduation rates. When student achievement goes up along with graduation rates and higher college enrollment, society will have a more highly skilled workforce. This served as an incentive to increase student achievement and required states to make sure high poverty or minority schools are equally included with the funding.
