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Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson started sharing his belief that all children should receive 3 free years of public education. Any education after that would be funded by the parents, except for a few scholarships given to geniuses "raked from the rubbish." -
Webster
Noah Webster writes the Blue-Backed Speller out of dissatisfaction with current educational books. It was very popular and helped standardize spelling throughout the country. -
Mann***
Horace Mann served as secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education and was a visionary educational reformer. He argued for improved school facilities, qualified and highly-paid teachers, and more years of education for each student. He is considered the father of the common school movement. Many were opposed to the idea of free public education for all, but it's thanks to Mann and others that we have our system today. More info: http://www.disabilitymuseum.org/dhm/edu/essay.html?id=42 -
Dept. of Education
The Department of Education was created in an effort to gather data to help states establish effective school systems. This was the beginning of Federal involvement in education, and the DoE's power and role has only grown since then. -
Immigration***
In the early 1900s, more immigrants flocked to the US than ever before. Getting thousands and thousands of new foreign students a week created a massive challenge for the country's schools. Teachers had to revise their curricula on the fly. Americanization became a new goal of the education system so that American values and culture could remain intact. Every classroom in the country is affected by the current influx of immigrants today. More info: http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/snpim1.htm -
Secondary School Movement
High Schools began sprouting up in earnest around the country. Schools emphasized both academic and "industrial" (practical, job-related) subjects. -
Brown v. Board of Education***
Brown v. Board was a major Supreme Court decision that ended segregation of schools. Although it didn't end prejudice or inequality in schools, this decision was a key Civil Rights victory. It moved the country's school system closer to that ultimate goal of equal opportunity for every child, which we still pursue to this day. More Info: http://landmarkcases.org/en/landmark/cases/brown_v_board_of_education -
Sputnik***
The fact that the Russians had beaten the US into space was unpalatable for the leaders of our country. They decided that an surge in education would make the US more competitive and safe. This was one of the first times that the government blamed our country's problems on the education system. This continues today, as public education is frequently a scapegoat for many of society's problems. More Info: http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2007/10/how-sputnik-changed-u-s-education/ -
ESEA***
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act was part of LBJ's War on Poverty. It is the most impactful piece of legislation in the history of education. ESEA provides funds for education, establishes accountability and high standards for schools, and mandates equal opportunity for all students. Title I provided additional funds for lower-income schools. Schools are still expected to solve poverty today. More Info: http://www.k12.wa.us/esea/ -
IDEA
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (aka EHA) secured access to FAPE for those with disabilities. Two of the acronyms we are familiar with today come from IDEA: LRE and IEP. -
A Nation at Risk
This report was commissioned by President Reagan's National Commission on Excellence in Education and featured a set of recommendations to save America's 'failing' school system. The report said that longer school days, more school days, higher standardized test score requirements, and more qualified teachers would improve our education system. -
NCLB
No Child Left Behind was the reauthorization of the ESEA under President George W. Bush. It required more standardized testing and that schools make "adequate yearly progress." Schools were accountable for student outcomes. -
RTTT
Race To The Top was a grand program created under President Obama that rewarded high-achieving schools. It was competitive and very unfair. It allowed expansion of charter schools. -
CCSS
Common Core State Standards were created and adopted to achieve curriculum excellence and consistency across the country. CCSS were developed for math and ELA to prepare students for college and careers. Common Core has become very political and the average person knows very little about the standards. -
ESSA
Every Student Succeeds Act is the current reauthorization of the ESEA and takes effect in the 2017-18 school year. It does away with much of NCLB and puts power back in the states' hands.
