-
Formation of Boston Latin School
First public schools appear established by colonists. At the beginning only boys attended and women were either privately educated at home or not at all. -
First Public High School Opens
In Boston English the first public high school opens its doors. Education beyond grammar schooling is now available for children. -
All Grades Are Free
In Massachusetts they pass a law making all grades free to all students. This allows all students, regardless of their ability to pay, the opportunity to get education. Funding may have caused issues with the general public however. Local funding would have been the way to make this happen. -
Standardization Introduced
Horace Mann introduces the idea of standardizing curriculum across schools. This ensures that all students have access to the same quality/content in education. -
Age Grading Introduced in 1848
Horace Mann introduces segregation by age based on practices witnessed in other countries. Introduced in MA. Separates school children by age to move up education levels. What about students who may have been above or behind their grade? -
Compulsory Attendance Laws Begin
In effort to ensure all students were present states began passing these laws. By 1918 all states at the time (38) had passed these laws. Students are now required to attend school. Perhaps issues due to some children supporting their families due to a loss of parent or if in agricultural areas where students would have been expected to help with farming. -
Plessy v.Ferguson
In 1892, passenger Homer Plessy refused to sit in a Jim Crow car. The law was challenged in the Supreme Court on grounds that it conflicted with the 13th and 14th Amendments. The Supreme court voted 7-1 and upheld the decision stating that “separate but equal” law didn’t conflict with the 13th amendment because it didn’t imply inferiority but merely segregation and that the state acted reasonably. -
Brown v. Board of Education
This case involved Mr. Oliver Brown who filed class action against the Topeka, Kansas school board because his child could not attend a white segregated school only because of their race. The decision was unanimous as the Court found that segregation lead to inequality because it took away equal protection under the law for the black students. This rejected the findings of the Plessy case and brought about change to fix discrimination within education. -
Engel v. Vitale
Supreme Court rules that the government can not sponsor school initiated prayer in the public school system. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Federal money became the standard. This, while helping schools not have to worry about raising funds locally, also created a checks and balances system with the Federal Government. This created a concern in schools to have better performance in order to obtain more funding. Schools are at the mercy of test scores. -
Tinker v. Des Moines
The Tinker children decided to wear black armbands to school to protest the Vietnam War and the administration wouldn't allow it and eventually removed them from the school. The Supreme Court ruled in the children's favor stating that it was a violation of their First amendment rights. -
Title IX
Title IX was introduced to Congress by Senator Birch Bayh of Indiana in response to the inequality of sexes in education. Title IX prohibits the discrimination of students based on sex in federally funded education programs. -
Education of all Handicapped Children Act
This Act ensured that all handicapped children are able to get special education and make sure they are treated fairly. Any institution that receives federal funds must abide by the guidelines to continue receiving funding. This Act also requires that the schools provide one free meal to these students. The Act protects physically disabled as well as mentally disabled students. The Act was sponsored by Harrison Williams Jr. and introduced to Congress in 1975. -
Pyler v. Doe
This case involved the change of Texas Legislation to deny enrollment to children not “legally admitted” to the country. This resulted in class action being filed on behalf of children from Mexico who lived in Texas and were not being allowed to attend public school. The Supreme Court voted that this was in violation of the Equal Protection Clause and stated that education could not be denied to these children. -
New Jersey v. T.L.O.
Supreme Court rules that students have reduced privacy in school. Began when a student was searched at school for cigarettes. -
No Child Left Behind Act
Provides money for extra educational help to poor children in return for better progress. Links funding with test scores. Again the concern here is that funding is linked to test scores which causes more focus on prepping for scores than real world skills. -
Every Student Succeeds Act
From https://www.ed.gov/esea
Put into place by President Obama. Advances equity, requires that all students be taught to high academic standards that will prepare them to succeed in college and careers, ensures that vital information is provided to educators, families, students, and communities , helps to support and grow local innovations, maintains an expectation that there will be accountability and action to effect positive change in our lowest-performing schools.
