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Colonial era
During the colonial time period (1600s-1776) education varied significantly. Many children received little or no formal education, but learned in the home. Dame schools, apprenticeships, & Latin grammar schools offered different experiences, but white wealthy males had more opportunities. Black & Native American children were usually denied formal educational opportunities. Puritans in the north tended to form religiously-based schools, but this was less likely middle & southern states. -
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American revolution
As the United States became a country the question was brought up as to what role the federal government should play in the new country. Founders like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson pushed for the formation of a federal school system, but these efforts were not successful. Because education was not mentioned in the U.S. Constituton, the issue was left to the states. -
Land Ordinance of 1785 & Northwest Ordinance of 1787
As European-Americans moved west, these ordinances set aside one square mile out of every 36 for public education. It was up to states to actually use the land on which to build schools or sell the land to raise money for schools. Lot 16 was specifically set aside for schools. -
Webster's first dictionary
Noah Webster’s first dictionary, A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language, appeared in 1806. In an effort for the United States to develop a unique culture, his dictionary popularized features that would become a hallmark of American English spelling. Webster's Elementary Spelling Book, now dubbed affectionately the "blue-back speller," also promoted his American English. -
Founding of the University of Virginia
Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia in 1819. He wished the publicly-supported school to have a national character and stature. Jefferson envisioned a new kind of university, one dedicated to educating leaders in practical affairs and public service rather than for professions in the classroom and pulpit exclusively. It was the first nonsectarian university in the United States and the first to use the elective course system. -
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Common school movement
The common school movement pushed for elementary (and later middle and high) schools for every white child. Horace Mann, the leader of this movement, believed common schools would be the "great equalizer" in our society that provided all students a chance at success. Much of the 1800s consisted of determining what these schools could/would look like. -
Horace Mann becomes Massachusetts Secretary of Education
Mann was appointed secretary in 1837 of the newly created board of education of Massachusetts (the first such position in the United States) and began his work to establish a universal, non-sectarian, and free education for children. He Is often called the “Father of the Common School Movement.” -
Great School Debates in New York
In the 1840s schools were dominated by Protestant religious teachings and this caused controversy particularly in especially diverse places like New York. Catholics were offended with the Protestant religion schooling of their children. These disagreements led to the Great School Debate in which Jews, Presbyterians, Catholics, & more argued for money for their own schools. In response, New York City created a board of education & Catholics created a national system of Catholic schools. -
Desegregation of Massachusetts schools
Benjamin F. Roberts attempted to enroll his 5 year old, African-American daughter Sarah at closer, whites-only schools. After she was denied on the basis of her race, & being physically removed from one school, he wrote to the state legislature. The Supreme Court of Massachusetts ruled against him, but the state legislature banned segregated schools in 1855 making it the first state to do so. -
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Arrival of "new immigrants"
Immigration to the US reached its peak from 1880-1920. "NEW IMMIGRANTS" came from Southern & Eastern Europe & were less accepted & seen as less “American” than “OLD IMMIGRANTS” from Western Europe who had come a generation earlier. Xenophobia – or fear of immigrants – was rampant as immigrants settled in cities in large numbers. Public schools were seen as a place where immigrant children could be “Americanized,” or assimilated into the American melting pot. -
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Progressive Education Movement
The Progressive Education Movement has many strands and is not easily defined, but it is generally agreed to promote a more student-centered approach to education. As compulsory public schools became the norm at the turn of the century numerous theorists and educators promoted progressive aims. The height of progressive education was in the 1920s and 1930s and declined significantly declined with WWII. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson is a landmark US Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of state laws requiring racial segregation in public facilities under the doctrine of "separate but equal." These Jim Crow laws meant schools could be segregated despite the 14th amendment’s call for equal protection under the law. Unfortunately, the “equal” part of the clause was not enforced with the vigor of the “separate” part of the ruling. -
U.S. entry into World War II
The official entrance into World War II also marked a turn to more traditional, teacher-centered approaches to education. Progressive, student-centered approaches were deemed controversial and more patriotic and conservative approaches became widespread. This turn did not relent at the end of World War II, but persisted into the Cold War that spanned half a century. WWII also saw the internment of Japanese-Americans (pictured). -
Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka
This landmark US Supreme Court case declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional, thus overturning Plessy v. Ferguson of 1896. Handed down on May 17, 1954, the decision stated that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." As a result, de jure racial segregation was ruled a violation of the US Constitution. However, desegregation was resisted in the South and the Civil Rights Movement was needed to help enforce it. -
National Defense Education Act of 1958
In response to the Soviet launching of Sputnik, the NDEA provided substantial funds for a variety of educational activities, particularly the strengthening of science, math, and foreign languages. -
Bilingual Education Act
While states like California and Texas already had local policies, BEA was the 1st piece of federal legislation that recognized the needs of students whose first language was not English. Its purpose was to provide school districts with federal funds to establish innovative programs for bilingual students. While the BEA addressed all linguistic minorities in the country, it was spearheaded by Spanish speakers. NCLB & Race to the Top failed to address bilingual issues. -
Title IX
Title IX is a groundbreaking law (part of the United States Education Amendments of 1972) intended to end sex discrimination in education. While most famous for its requirement that schools provide girls with equal athletic opportunities, the law applies to all educational programs that receive federal funding, and to all aspects of a school's educational system. Title IX benefits both boys and girls and is the lynchpin of 40 years of efforts to promote and establish gender equity. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act required public schools accepting federal funds to provide equal educational access for children with disabilities. Public schools were required to evaluate handicapped children & create a plan with parent input that would emulate as closely as possible the experiences of non-disabled students. The Act, reauthorized as The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), has led to efforts today typified by inclusion & Individual Education Plans. -
A Nation at Risk Report
“A Nation at Risk: The Imperative For Educational Reform” is the 1983 report of American President Ronald Reagan's National Commission on Excellence in Education. Its publication is considered a landmark event in modern American educational history. Among other things, the report contributed to the ever-growing assertion that American schools were failing, and it touched off a wave of local, state, and federal reform efforts including the standardized testing movement. -
No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) promotes standards-based education reform based on the premise that setting high standards & establishing measurable goals improves outcomes. To receive federal funding, states must give assessments in basic skills to all students at select grade levels, but each state develops its standards. NCLB expanded the federal role in public education through annual testing, annual academic progress, report cards, teacher qualifications, & funding changes. -
Race to the Top
Race to the Top is a US Department of Ed. contest created to spur innovation & reforms in state & local district K-12 education. States are awarded points for satisfying certain educational policies, such as performance-based standards (or Annual Professional Performance Review) for teachers & principals, complying with Common Core standards, lifting caps on charter schools, turning around lowest-performing schools, & more. In many ways, this initiative doubles down on standards-based reforms.
