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Plessy v. Ferguson
The Plessy v. Ferguson case ruled that "separate but equal" accommodations for African American and whites were constitutional. From this ruling came the creation of separate facilities for African Americans and whites, as long as they were "equal". This continued into the school system, where African American and white students were separated. This ruling is a huge historical event that explains some of the roots of racism that are seen even in modern times. -
The Cardinal Principles Report of 1918
This report stated that schools need to adopt a more comprehensive approach to education that addressed liberal arts and vocational development rather than having all students follow the same traditional course of study. This different curriculum created a basis for modern education today, where students are able to follow their own academic interests and goals. If this report wasn't created, education may not be as individually oriented as it is today. -
Brown v. Board of Education
In this case, the Supreme Court concluded with a unanimous ruling, stating that "separate but equal" was "inherently unequal". This ruling allowed for equal education of African Americans and whites, as seen in schools today. After this court ruling, Africans Americans and whites were mixed in classrooms, allowing the understanding and assimilations of cultures. Because of this, all cultures were able to receive the same education, allowing for the beginning of the end of educational racism. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
The passage of this law allows students with disabilities to receive the same educational rights as everyone else for no extra cost, whereas before, students with disabilities frequently attended institutions with limited education and limited resources. It is important for everyone, even individuals with disabilities, to be educated in the same way as everyone else. This law finally allowed for the equal opportunity for every disadvantaged group to receive a proper and equal education. -
No Child Left Behind Act
This act is important because it was one of the first acts that addressed the issue that disadvantaged groups were not receiving the same educational resources as other groups. It attempted to help disadvantaged students reach the same educational goals as advanced students by providing test standards that must be met within the schools. This served as a precedent for others, such as the Every Student Succeeds Act, and for other school standards, such as Common Core.
