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Northwest Land Ordinance, 1785
This act, allowed settlers to purchase farmland in the undeveloped west. Even this early on in history Education was highly valued, and because large amounts of people acted on this Northwest Land Ordinance, many communities that were being settled used school houses as incentives for more settlers to reside there. -
*The Impact of Jefferson, Rush, and Webster
Not only was Jefferson a founding father of our nation, he was also one of the first advocates for an education reform. Rush, believed that education in America should be preferable to education in any other country. Webster took it upon himself to improve literature in American classrooms. He wrote a dictionary and other books that improved literacy in American classrooms.
http://htomblinson.weebly.com/blogs/comparison-of-the-educational-plans-of-jefferson-rush-and-webster -
The impact of Horace Mann
Horace Mann believed in education reform, and spent a lot of time traveling to different schools to sort of rate them on their façade and curriculum. In these investigations he recognized the need for common curriculum, and implemented the Common School Movement. -
Population growth and immigration in the 19th Century
The growth of population created a huge problem in the education system. Because there was a limited amount of schools, they became over-crowded and less-effective in educating students because of the high number of students attending. This made it easier for children and parents to justify child labor, because the education system became a bit cluttered at this time. -
Secondary School Movement
In 1910-1940 the need for separate schooling for older students became evident, and secondary schools started sprouting all around the US. -
The impact of John Dewey
Also a believer in Educational reform. He was a voice of progressive education and liberalism. -
The impact of WWII
Education in America was largely ignored during WWII. Because of this, there was a huge need for rebuild after the war ended. -
Brown vs Board of Education
This was a Supreme Court case, in which all segregated schools were declared as unequal and unconstitutional. Schools could now no longer segregate, and students would not be withheld any advantage because of race.
https://www.nps.gov/brvb/index.htm -
Sputnik and NDEA, 1957-58
Because the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, Americans feared that the education in America was not at the level of other countries. This created a drive to improve the education system in the US. -
Individuals with Disabilities Act
This act ensures that students with disabilities will be provided with a free appropriate public education that is tailored to their individual needs. The creation of this was to give children with disabilities the same educational opportunities as those without disabilities.
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep/osep-idea.html -
The Standards Movement
Because of the Nation at Risk Report, the government wanted a way to make sure that students everywhere were learning the same content. The standards for each content area were created to assure that all schools are aligned. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standards-based_education_reform_in_the_United_States -
Growth of Standardize Testing
Because of the Nation at Risk Report created such a huge concern for the youth’s education, they wanted to track student’s current abilities and progress the only way they knew how, testing. This became a huge expense to the nation, and is still being used to rate knowledge and understanding today. -
A Nation at Risk Report, 1983
This is a report that was done under the direction of President Nixon, where schools were under investigation on their teaching abilities and success. At the end of the investigation the education system was titled ‘at risk’, even though the education system was better than it ever had been.
https://www2.ed.gov/pubs/NatAtRisk/risk.html -
No Child Left Behind, 2001
This act is probably put under the most scrutiny over any other act in education. This act implemented standards, and a level of achievement on assessments that schools needed to meet in order to get government funding. Because no one could reach these standards, the act was stripped away and replaced by the Every Student Succeeds Act. -
ESSA 2015
This Act replaced the No Child Left Behind Act, but still implements the heavy standardize tests, and standards. It also expanded the government’s role in funding public education.
