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Ruby Bridges is the first African American first-grader to attend William Frantz Elementary School
In New Orleans, Ruby Bridges is the first African-American first grader to attend William Frantz Elementary School. All white students withdrew, leaving Ruby as the only student. This was one of the early steps to racial desegregation in American schools. -
ENGEL v. VITALE
US supreme court ruled that states may not compose a prayer to be recited in school, even if the prayer is non-dominational. Prayer in school was ruled a violation of the First Amendment. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This law makes it illegal to discriminate against anyone because of their race, religion, national origin, sex, or color. The Senate voted in favor of the bill by a margin of 73-27 and Lyndon B. Johnson signed it. This was a major milestone in providing equal rights to all Americans. -
Immigration Act of 1965
This Act phased out immigration quota systems instituted in 1921. This resulted in a huge increase in immigrants from Latin American and Asia. This had a big impact on the diversity of students in the American school system. -
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee by confirmed racist James Earl Ray. Dr. King was was the primary leader of the Civil Rights movement and also a Nobel Peace Prize recipient. -
Indian Education Act
After congress studied the current status of Native American education, congress passed the Indian Education Act. The Act focuses on funding and providing proper education services for Native American individuals. This Act has helped many Native Americans obtain higher education. -
Equal Education Opportunities Act
The Equal Education Opportunities Act prohibits any discrimination in education against any individual because of race, sex, religion, culture, or color and protects faculty, staff, and students. It helped protect the rights of students with limited knowledge of the English language. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act was signed into law by President Gerald Ford in 1975. This Act provided funding and opportunities for education for all handicapped children and required that states enact these requirements by 1978. -
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1990
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1990 was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush. This act enabled 700,000 immigrants to enter annually into the United States and focused on visas for families and visas for skilled workers. This act has also added diversity to the American classroom. -
No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act was signed into law by President George W. Bush. This act required testing in reading and in math and was designed to provide all children with fair and equal opportunities to obtain a high-quality education.
