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Engel v. Vitale
The New York Regent's Prayer is found to be in direct violation with the First Amendment because it is in favor of an "established religion" though nondenominational. This was significant because it helped stop educational organizations from pressuring religious ideals on students. Though some students would have been culturally included with the prayer, others' cultures would not have been specific to the prayer. -
The Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act becomes law stating that people cannot be discriminated against "based on race, color, sex, religion or national origin". This begins the long path towards equal and culturally inclusive education for everyone. -
The Equality of Opportunity Educational Study
Also called the Coleman Report, this study found that African American students did better off educationally if they were put into schools that were "integrated". Though the Civil Rights Act had just recently been put into law, people were resistant to allow schools to desegregate. This study was one of the first pieces of actual evidence to desegregate the schools and allow many cultures to be included, specifically African Americans. -
Bilingual Education Act
The Bilingual Education Act is put into law marking the first time that Congress had ever put funds towards any type of bilingual education. Schools were from then on required to provide and implement programs toward bilingual education. This was important because it allowed more cultures to be integrated into the schools. Many children from other cultures were previously unable to get an education because of a language barrier that was addressed by this act. -
Indian Education Act
The Indian Education Act is put into law and for the first time Native American students' needs are addressed. This act makes schools not only address Native American students but their cultural needs as well. -
Equal Educational Opportunities Act
The Equal Educational Opportunities Act is put into law and schools can no longer foster a culture of inequity in regards to student's educational "protection". Schools now have to try overcome cultural differences to defend the rights of those that are not proficient in English, causing the integration of all cultures. -
The Refugee Act and Refugee Education Act
President Jimmy Carter pushes these acts into law making the "resettlement" of immigrants and their education a priority. Immigrants of all types begin to get educational aid both in regards to resources and financial need. This allows immigrant cultures to proliferate within the school educationally. -
Plyler v. Doe
Texas is forced to provide education to any "undocumented school age children" meaning that they cannot exclude them culturally or financially from guaranteed education. This was important because it established that undocumented children were still under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment. Changes had to be made to include these varied children into the school system. -
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1990
This act allows many more immigrants to come into the United States bringing annual immigration up to 700,000. Because of this, a large diversity shift occurs and schools begin to get more and more diverse cultures in them, prompting schools to take action to fulfill their educational needs. Visa requirements are changed and opened up to professionals and skilled workers. -
No Child Left Behind Act
President Bush pushes this act into effect, replacing the Bilingual Education Act of 1968. This act urges the nation towards a testing based evaluation approach that is standardized and "high stake". With penalties for below average scores, schools are pushed to educate to one culturally ascertained standard. Some students with different cultural needs have a hard time grasping this standardized approach making it hard to meet their needs. This act begins the standardized test approach.
