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Puritans establish first Latin grammer school in Boston
Fifteen years after arriving in America, the Puritans establish their first Latin grammar school in Boston. Although the school was exclusive for boys of wealth, it was in fact the first step towards creating the American high school. -
Massachusetts Education Laws of 1642 and 1647
In 1642, Massachusetts passed a law requiring that parents and schoolmasters be checked to see if their children were recieving proper instruction. Later in 1647, Massachusetts passed another law known as Old Deluder Satan Law. This law required that every town of 50 households hire a schoolmaster to teach children to read and write. Also, every town of 100 households must provide a Latin grammar school to prepare children for college. -
The New England Primer
The New England Primer was the first textbook published in the 13 colonies. It was first pubished in 1690 by Benjamin Harris. -
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History of Education in America
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First publicly supported library in America
In 1698, the first publicly supported library in the nation was established in Charles Town, South Carolina. Two years later, the General Assembly of South Carolina passed the first public library law. -
Christopher Dock open a school in Montgomery County
Christopher Dock, a famous educator from Germany, opens a school in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. His book Schul-Ordnung, meaning school management, was published in 1770. It is the first book about teaching printed in colonial America. -
Benjamin Franklin helps to establish the “English Academy”
Benjamin Franklin helps to establish the first "English Academy" in Philadelphia. Later the academy becomes the University of Pennsylvania. -
The Young Ladies Academy
The Young Ladies Academy opens in Philadelphia and becomes the first academy for girls in America. The opening of this academy lead the way for progress in education for girls and women. -
Pennsylvania state constitution declares free public education for poor children
In 1790, the state constitution in Pennsylvania required free public education for children in families that could not afford to pay for an education. However the rich were still expected to pay for their children's schooling. -
James Pillans becomes famous for inventing the blackboard
James Pillans, headmaster of the Royal High School in Edinburgh, Scotland, invents the blackboard. The invention of the blackboard has had a lasting impact on the way instructors teach. -
Boston English High School Opens
The English High School of Boston, Massachusetts is one of the first public high schools in America. In this era, education makes its to way to becoming more diverse. -
McGuffey Reader
In 1836, Rev. William Holmes McGuffey wrote a series of readers to introduce children to an ethical code. The children modeled in this book are prompt, good, kind, honest and truthful. This first book contained fifty-five lessons. -
Mount Holyoke Female Seminary
Chemist and educator Mary Lyon founded Mount Holyoke College in 1837. Mount Holyoke has led the way in women's education. It became a model upon which many other women's colleges were built. -
School Tranportation Reform
In 1869 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts passed the first legislation in the United States allowing the use of public funds for transporting children to school. And in 1919, Delaware and Wyoming passed similar legislation, making forty-eight states that now have laws for tranporting children. -
Private Education
In 1925, the Supreme Court ruled in Pierce v. Society of Sisters, that states could not make children attend public schools only. Children could attend private schools where instruction is provided for various religious denominations. Private schools were seen as an alternative for any group that found the available forms of education unsatisfactory. -
Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka
Brown vs. Board of Education officially ended the legal segregation in public schools. It is probably the most important Supreme Court case in the history of education. -
Project Head Start
Project Head Start is a preschool education program for children from low-income families. It was started by President Lyndon Johnson and his "War on Poverty". The program continues still today and is the longest-running anti-poverty program in the U.S. -
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was signed into law by President George W. Bush and approved by congress in 2001. NCLB requires that all students in grades 3-8 and in one grade in high school be tested once a year in reading and mathematics. Students are expected to score at the "proficient" level or above on state-administered tests by 2014. NCLB has been noted for being good in theory, but not so easily implemented in the classrooms. -
The North American Council for Online Learning (NACOL)
The North American Council for Online Learning (NACOL) is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing K-12 online education. NACOL seeks to give children an education through quality online learning opportunities. Now into the 21st century technology begins to have a bigger role in education. -
Quest to Learn (Q2L)
Quest to Learn opened in New York City with a class of sixth graders. It is the first school to teach primarily through game-based learning, Q2L is "designed to support the digital lives of young people and their capacity for learning." -
President Obama invites states to request flexibility from NCLB
With NCLB not working as planned, President Obama has agreed to provide waivers that will give states the flexibility needed "to raise student achievement standards, improve school accountability, and increase teacher effectiveness." States will now be given more freedon to improve on education as they see fit.
