History of American Education

  • 1636

    Harvard is opened becoming the first post-secondary school in North America
  • 1642-1648

    Massachusetts creates compulsory education laws with the Massachusetts Act
  • 1653

    William and Mary opened in Virginia, and Dame schools open allowing women to receive a limited education
  • 1706-1790

    Benjamin Franklin, an educator (among many other things) who opened the Philadelphia Academy in 1751
  • 1792

    Sarah Pierce opens the Litchfield Female Academy providing a formal education
    for women
  • 1821

    Boston is home to the first public secondary school
  • 1743-1826

    Thomas Jefferson, an advocate for education who pushed for funding of public schools and creator of the University of Virginia
  • 1758-1853

    Noah Webster, a speller and creator of some of the first textbooks
  • 1855

    First kindergarten opens in America
  • 1857

    National Education Association is founded
  • 1862

    Morrill Land-Grant Act provides funding for schools
  • 1856-1915

    Booker T. Washington, having struggled to receive his own education, created the
    Tuskegee Institute to help the next generation have easier access to education
  • 1916

    American Foundation of Teachers is founded
  • 1930

    All states enforced compulsory education laws
  • 1944

    GI bill increases number of college graduates
  • Period: to

    1950's

    Competition for global educational superiority sparked additional school funding
  • 1859-1952

    John Dewey, a progressive educator that established a school for testing education
    Principles
  • 1870-1952

    Maria Montessori, an Italian physician believing in individualized education
  • 1954

    Brown vs. The Board of Education determined segregation was unlawful
  • Period: to

    1960's

    Reform movement to end poverty by increasing education
  • 1975

    Congress passes PL91-142 calling for an individualized and quality education for handicapped students
  • 1975

    Title IX of the Education Amendments Act allowed students access to programs previously denied to them based on gender
  • 2002

    No Child Left Behind Act attempts to “close the achievement gap”
    (GreatSchools Staff, 2016
  • 2015

    Every Student Succeeds Act allows states to judge school quality and act on it