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Jamestown
The roots of American education began with the Jamestown colon, the first permanent english settlement in North America. -
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Timeline
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Latin Grammar School
The first Latin Grammar School is established -
First Free School
The first free school opens in Virginia -
First English Academy
Benjamin Franklin helps establish the first English Academy in Philadelphia with a curriculum that is both classical and modern -
The Land Ordinance of 1785
specifies that the western territories are to be divided into townships made up of 640-acre sections, one of which was to be set aside "for the maintenance of public schools." -
The Northwest Ordinance
is enacted by the Confederation Congress. It provides a plan for western expansion and bans slavery in new states. Specifically recognizing the importance of education, Act 3 of the document begins, "Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." Perhaps of more of practical importance, it stipulates that a section of land in every township of each new state be reserved for the s -
U,S. Constitution
The U.S. Constitution is ratified by the required number of states. -
The Bill of Rights
is passed by the first Congress of the new United States. No mention is made of education in any of the amendments. However, the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution states that powers not delegated to the federal government "are reserved to the States, respectively, or to the people." Thus, education becomes a function of the state rather than the federal government. -
First Public High School
The first public high school opens -
Horace Mann
becomes secretary of the newly formed Massachussetts State Board of Education. As editor of the Common School Journal, his belief in the importance of free, universal public education gains a national audience. -
Normal Schools
The first state funded school specifically for teacher education (then known as normal schools) opens in Lexington, Massachusetts. -
First Kindergarten
The first kindergarten opens in Watertown, Wisconsin. -
National Defense Education Act
At least partially because of Sputnik, science and science education become important concerns in the U.S., resulting in the passage of the National Defense Education Act which authorizes increased funding for scientific research as well as science, mathematics, and foreign language education. -
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act
is passed on April 9. Part of Lyndon Johnson's "War on Poverty," it provides federal funds to help low-income students, which results in the initiation of educational programs such as Title I and bilingual education. -
HIgher Education Act
is again amended and reauthorized, expanding access to higher education for low and middle income students, providing additional funds for graduate studies, and increasing accountability. -
Every Student Succeeds Act
replaces No Child Left Behind and allows more state control in judging school quality.