-
Massachusetts' Elementary School Mandate
In the 1600s, the Massachusetts Bay Colony had strict laws regarding education and schools. These laws were designed to ensure that Puritan children received a basic education in reading and writing, as well as religious instruction in the tenets of Calvinism.The Massachusetts Bay Colony's General Court decreed that every town of fifty families or more should establish an elementary school, and every town of one hundred families or more should establish a Latin school. -
Period: to
The Common School Movement
The common school movement in America began in the early 19th century and was a response to the growing need for a more democratic and standardized system of education. It aimed to create a system of publicly funded schools that would provide equal educational opportunities for all children, regardless of their social status or economic background. By the end of the century, the common school model had become the dominant form of education in America and remains so to this day. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson was a landmark Supreme Court case in 1896 that dealt with the issue of racial segregation and the “separate but equal” doctrine. The case involved Homer Plessy who was arrested for sitting in a “whites only” railway car. Plessy argued that this violated his rights under the clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court’s decision upheld the “separate but equal” doctrine and segregation in public spaces continued. -
Brown v. the Board of Education Topeka
The case of Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark Supreme Court case in 1954. This case addressed the matter of segregation in public schools. The case was brought by a group of Black parents because their children were being denied admission into all white schools. The argument was schools for Black children were not equal to schools for white children. The Supreme Court unanimously overturned the doctrine. This impacted the civil rights movement and began the process of desegregation. -
Cooper v. Aaron
The Cooper v. Aaron case was about the Little Rock School Board resisting the implementation of the Brown v. Board of Education decision and requested to suspend the plan for desegregation until 1961. The district court granted this request and three families challenged this decision. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, stating that states must comply with federal court orders to desegregate schools immediately. This was seen as a major victory for the civil rights movement. -
Engel v. Vitale
Engel v. Vitale was a case about the issue of school prayer in public schools. It was brought by several families, challenging that the state-mandated prayer was a violation of the First Amendment. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the families. This decision further promoted the separation of church and state and the rights of individuals to freely exercise their religious beliefs without government interference. -
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal funding. Feminists advocated for sex to be a protected category as part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in response to concerns about gender inequality in education, including the underrepresentation of women in certain academic fields and sports programs. This law was designed to ensure that all students, regardless of gender, have equal educational opportunities. -
Lau v. Nichols
Lau v. Nichols was a case that dealt with the issue of the failure to provide English language instruction to Chinese students, who did not speak English, which denied them the opportunity to be successful in their education. It was argued that they were at a disadvantage and it prevented them from fully participating in their education. The Court found that schools must provide appropriate services in order to ensure that these students are not excluded from equal educational opportunities. -
Education of all Handicapped Children Act
The EHA was enacted in 1975 as a federal law that addressed the needs and discrimination of children with disabilities. The law was in response to concerns about the lack of educational opportunities and services available for disabled children. The law ensured the right of children with disabilities to accommodations and support services necessary to help them succeed in school. This law had a significant impact as it helped promote educational opportunities for disabled students. -
Plyler v. Doe
Plyler v. Doe was a case in 1982 that dealt with the issue of the education of undocumented children. The case was brought by a group of undocumented parents. The state argued that the law was necessary in order to preserve limited educational resources. The decision in the case found that these children were entitled to equal treatment. The impact was huge for undocumented children and their families as it ensured their right to free public education, regardless of their immigration status. -
Grutter v. Bollinger
Grutter v. Bollinger was a case brought by Barbara Grutter, a white applicant, who was denied admission to the University of Michigan Law School. She argued that the school’s use of race as a factor in its admission decisions violated her rights. The Supreme Court upheld the school’s use of race as a factor in admissions, holding that the use of race-conscious admissions policies was constitutional under strict scrutiny, as long as their interest was in promoting diversity in higher education. -
Forest Grove School District v. T.A.
Forest of Grove School District v. T.A. was a case about the reimbursement for private school tuition under IDEA. The case was brought by the parents of T.A., a student with learning disabilities. The parents claimed the school failed to provide their son with the appropriate accommodations and sought reimbursement for the cost of sending him to private school. The Court held that IDEA authorizes reimbursement when public schools fail to provide FAPE.
