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Common School 1830’s
Movement was made to try and use public funding to fund schools and kickoff the start of public schooling. This movement was founded by Horace Mann. Common Schools became so popular that other states adopted them through the 1830’s. https://dr.lib.iastate.edu/entities/publication/4e3b776b-39b3-4f1b-adc8-a3f60339b541 -
Homestead Act (1862)
The Homestead Act gave anyone who never fought against the US Government the right to claim up to 160 acres of surveyed land. After improving the land a paying a fee the land would be theirs after five years. This massive migration of people forced changes to public schools. -
Freedmen’s Bureau (1865)
Was Established to help millions of former black slaves and poor white people in the south. Gave them food, housing, and medical aid. The most important thing it did though was it built thousands of schools to educate these people. https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/freedmens-bureau#:~:text=The%20bureau%20also%20was%20instrumental,Hampton%20University%20in%20Hampton%2C%20Virginia. -
Plessy v Ferguson
This was the first legal case that challenged the meaning of the 14th Amendment. The outcome of this case was that the Louisiana state law that allowed racial segregation was not violating the 14th Amendment. With this outcome it basically constitutionally established the separation of African Americans and whites. https://www.britannica.com/event/Plessy-v-Ferguson-1896 -
American Federation of Teachers (1916)
Founded in (1916). According to their mission statement, “ The American Federation of Teachers is a union of professionals that champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and high-quality public education, healthcare and public services for our students, their families and our communities. We are committed to advancing these principles through community engagement, organizing, collective bargaining and political activism, and especially through the work our members do.”
www.aft.org -
Brown vs Board of Education (1952)
Oliver Brown files a class action lawsuit against the Board of Education in 1951. This happened because Brown’s daughter was denied entrance into an all white school. He argued that the White schools and Blacks schools were not equal so it went against the Plessy vs Ferguson outcome. Court ruled in Mr. Brown’s favor. https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/brown-v-board-of-education-of-topeka -
National Defense Education Act (1958)
Act was passed in response to the Soviet Union’s launch of the satellite Sputnik into space. This caused a race into space. To try and beat the Soviet Union this act funded education all across the US to improve our Science, Math, and Foreign Language fields. https://history.house.gov/HouseRecord/Detail/15032436195 -
Elementary and Secondary Act (1965)
Law passed to help establish equal opportunity for all students. Did this by using state run programs to help raise the academic success of each failing student. https://www.k12.wa.us/policy-funding/grants-grant-management/every-student-succeeds-act-essa-implementation/elementary-and-secondary-education-act-esea -
EHA (1975)/ IDEA (1990)
Education for All Handicapped Children Act was established in 1975. It was later renamed Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1990. Before this act passed many children with disabilities were denied access to education. This law made sure children with disabilities received and good and fair education. https://sites.ed.gov/idea/IDEA-History -
No Child Left Behind Act (2002)
Effective 2002-2015. Was passed to help to offer more opportunities for students. It had four main groups it focused on which were students in poverty, of color, in special education, and those not able to speak or hardly speak English. https://www.understood.org/en/articles/no-child-left-behind-nclb-what-you-need-to-know