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Miami opens first bilingual school.
Due to the influx of Cubans exiles arriving in Miami, Coral Way Elementary School began teaching all students in English and Spanish. It was the first school to recognize and embrace the diversity of its students and adjusted its curriculum to meet the students' needs. -
The Civil Rights Act becomes law.
The Civil Rights Act becomes law, and prohibits discrimination and segregation based on race, color, sex, religion or national origin, in the workplace and in schools. The law provided equal access to education for everyone. -
The Head Start program begins.
Head Start was designed to help break the cycle of poverty, providing preschool children of low-income families with a comprehensive program to meet their emotional, social, health, nutritional and psychological needs. Head Start has served over 32 million children since 1965. Each year, Head Start serves over a million children and their families each year in in all 50 states and U.S. territories. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act enacted.
President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the ESEA in 1965. ESEA emphasizes equal access to education for all students. It provides resources for vulnerable students, encourages high standards for academic achievement from students, teachers, administrators, and parents. ESEA offers grants to underserved districts, federal grants for textbooks and special education centers. ESEA is still the largest source of federal spending on primary and secondary education. -
The Bilingual Education Act of 1968
This act provided federal grants to school districts that wanted to develop bilingual education programs. Funds could be used for program development and research, staff training, and educational resources. Schools serving high populations of low-income children were to be the primary beneficiaries. The goal was to encourage school districts to provide instruction in a student's native language. -
The case of Diana v. California State Board
The case of Diana v. California State Board resulted in a change in the way students with learning disabilities are assessed. Due to this case, children are now tested in their native language. The scores are then evaluated with the student's developmental history, cultural background, and academic acheivement in mind. -
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
This law is a part of the Federal Civil Rights Laws, and is part of the Education Amendment. Under this law, "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." It gives each gender equal rights to educational programs, activities, and federal financial assistance. -
Equal Educational Opportunities Act passed.
The Equal Educational Opportunities Act (EEOA) of 1974 is a federal law of the United States of America. It prohibits discrimination against faculty, staff, and students, including racial segregation of students, and requires school districts to take action to overcome barriers to students' equal participation. -
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 passed.
This act provided children with disabilities to “have a right to education, and to establish a process by which State and local educational agencies may be held accountable for providing educational services for all handicapped children.” The act included checks and balances called “procedural safeguards” that are designed to protect the rights of children with special needs and their parents. -
No Child Left Behind Act signed into law.
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) increased the role of the federal government in guaranteeing the quality of public education for all children in the United States. -- with an emphasis on increased funding for poor school districts, higher achievement for poor and minority students, and new measures to hold schools accountable for their students' progress. NCLB dramatically increased the role of high-stakes standardized testing in the public education system. -
Every Student Succeeds Act enacted.
The ESSA replaces NCLB. While ESSA still required standardized testing for students, the states were allowed to set their own goals and consequences for low-performing schools.
