Education By kenziepeirce Jan 1, 1776 Average lifetime school attendance average time spent in school. Jun 1, 1837 Horace Mann Appointed 1st secrtary of board of education Found the education to be based on taxes and fee paid by parent. Oct 23, 1837 average schooling in Mass. $2.81 Jan 26, 1840 great school debates in New York Ask government for catholic schools Feb 23, 1848 schooling in Mass. $4.80 Jun 1, 1855 1st law abolishing segregation in schools Jan 1, 1900 50% of children in school by 5 years of age Feb 1, 1945 high school graducate rate 45% Jan 1, 1965 Elementary and secondary education act Jan 1, 1980 average school attendence is 12 and a half years Feb 1, 1997 homeschooling is legal in all 50 states