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Plessy vs Ferguson
This legally implemented racial segregation for the next few decades. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation didn't violate the U.S. constitution as long as the school for each race was equal in quality. This became know as "Separate but equal". -
Brown vs. Board of Education
This law ruled racial segregation in U.S. public schools as unconstitutional. It stated that "Separate but equal" is not equal. It stated that you can't segregate students based on their color in any U.S. public schools even if the schools are equal in the quality of the education they provide. This law didn't abolish racial segregation in all schools. One year later, Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat sparked a movement to continued to work towards eliminating segregation. -
National Defense Education Act
The NDEA was passed in 1958 and it provided more funding for schools in America. It also encouraged students to pursue further education after high school. The main reason that this was passed was because the United States was trying to compete with the Soviet Union in terms of our educational systems. The impact this had was that after this, many more students went to college to pursue 4 year degrees. This changed education because it emphasized the importance of further education. -
Head Start program
This program was originated to low-income families and is funded my the government with no charge. The purpose for this program is to provide these families with emotional, social, health and psychological needs. It also helps promote school readiness to kids from toddlers and preschool-aged children. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
This program was created by the United States department of education. Its purpose was to distribute funding to schools and school districts with a high percentage of students from low-income families. It provided students to get equal access to education no matter their income status. This is very important because many children who live in poverty don’t always go to school because they can’t afford school supplies or even transportation. -
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA)
This required that schools receiving federal funding be required to provide equal education to students with disabilities. It also required for them to be in a less restrictive environment. Prior to this, many children with disabilities and special needs were not educated nor were schools required to educate them. In 1990 this act was changed to Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). -
Student Loan Reform Act
This was a huge change in the education industry because it allowed students with poor financial situations to receive help from the government. Providing loans is a great way to allow students to continue their education without having to worry about having money for it. They offer a lot of repayment plans that can be paid off once they finish college. -
The invention of Google Products
The invention of Google changed education in our country immensely. Almost all students across every level have a gmail/ Google Drive account to help them organize their classes! Google provides services like docs, slides, sheets, and everything a students needs to be successful. I think this is an overlooked event that shaped education in the modern society. -
No child left behind act
This law was signed by president George W. Bush to raise the standards of curriculum taught at schools in the U.S since school standards had been declining. The law required states to show yearly progress based on standardized tests. There was mixed results on this law. Some schools showed improvements and others didn't. Teachers were frustrated by having to teach to the standardized tests and there were concerns that all schools would be held to the same standards. -
The "Race to The Top" grant
This was a grant created during Obama's presidency in order to acquire more funding for public education. The Department of Education asked states to reform four main areas of education. Which could be narrowed down to changing standards and state assessments, build better systems to 'track' students scores, training teachers more effectively, and helping low-achieving school systems.