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The Old Deluder Satan Act
The first compulsory education law - required universal public education. The law required every town of 50 or more families to hire a teacher for reading and writing. This event was not only a great influence on our education system but was the first to recognize that are nation needed one. So, that our children could learn how to read and understand the principles of religion and the capital laws of the country. -
Common Schools
Upon becoming the secretary of education in Massachusetts in 1837, Horace Mann worked to create a statewide system of professional teachers, based on the Prussian model of "common schools," which referred to the belief that everyone was entitled to the same content in education. This model of striving to make or schools better and having a more effective curriculum has been a continuous effort throughout our nations educational history. -
Compulsory Education
The compulsory attendance act of 1852 enacted by the state of Massachusetts was the first general law attempting to control the conditions of children. The law included mandatory attendance for children between the ages of 8-14 for at least three months out of each year. This act has been strongly enforced since then and modified so that today 99% of U.S. children attend government schools and the majority of children ages 6-13 are now enrolled in elementary schools. -
Brown v. Board of Education
The Court unanimously ruled that "separate but equal" public schools for blacks and whites were unconstitutional. The Brown case served as a catalyst for the modern civil rights movement, inspiring education reform everywhere and forming the legal means of challenging segregation in all areas of society. This event has not only had a great impact on the history of education, but also on the working environment as well. It led the way for everyone to have an equal opportunity. -
No Child Left Behind Act
NCLBA was signed into law to remedy a crisis in education and give children in low-performing public schools options to choose better public schools. It supports standard-based education reform based on the premise that setting high standards and establishing measurable goals can improve individual outcomes in education. The Act requires states to develop assessments in basic skills. To receive federal school funding, States must give these assessments to all students at select grade levels.
