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Little Rock, Arkansas
A federal court orders integration of Little Rock, Arkansas public schools. Governor Orval Faubus sends his National Guard to physically prevent nine African American students from enrolling at all-white Central High School. Reluctantly, President Eisenhower sends federal troops to enforce the court orfer, not because he supports desegregation, but because he can't let a state governor use military power to deft the U.S. federal government. -
The sovient Union launches Sputnik
The Soviet Union launches Sputnik, the first satellite to orbit the Earth. Occurring in the midst of the Cold War, it represts both a potential threat to American national sequrity, as well as a blow the national pride. -
Sputnik
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 Act (NDEA) which authorizes increased funding for scientific research and science education. -
ACT Test
The ACT Test is first administered. -
Ruby Bridges
First grader Ruby Bridges is the fist African American to attend William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. She becomes a class of one as parents remove all Caucasian students from the school. -
Lev Vygotsky
First published in 1934, Lev Vygotsky's book, Thought and Language, is introduced to the English-speaking world. Though he lives to be only 38 years old, Vygotsky's ideas regarding the social nature of learning provide important foundational principles for contemporary social constructivist theoried. He is perhaps best known for his concept of "Zone of Promximal Development" -
"Learning Disability"
Samuel A. Kirk uses the tearm "learning disability" at a Chicago conference on children with perceptual disorders. The term sticks and in 1964, the Association for Children with Leraning Disabilities, now learning Disabilities Association id America, if formed. -
The Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act becomes a law. It prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion or national origin. -
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) is passed on April 9th. Part of Lyndon Johnson's "War on Poverty," it provides federal funds to help low-income students, which results in the initiation of educattion programs such as Title 1 and bilingual education. -
Summer Program
Project Head Start, a preschool education program for children from low-income families begins an eight-week summer program. Part of the "War on Pvery," the program continues to this day as the longest running anti-poverty program in the U.S.
