-
1779 - Two-track Educational System
Thomas Jefferson proposed the two-track education system back in 1779. His purpose was to separate the laboring from the learned. Those classified as laboring would only need first-grade education to begin their work, and they would not receive the same opportunities. Those classified as the learned would need all the education as they further their acquirements. Thomas Jefferson said, "raking a few geniuses from the rubbish". -
1896 - Plessy V. Ferguson
This ruling allowed racial segregation as long as each race was equal in quality. The phrase used was separate but equal. The court ruled that racial segregation does not violate the U.S. constitution. On May 17th, 1954, the supreme court overruled the Plessy decision in the Brown V. Board of Education. This was a time when it was the white people against the black people. It all stemmed from Homer Plessy refusing to sit in a car for Black people. -
1954 - Brown V.The Board of Education, Topeka
This was the end of racial segregation. The U.S. supreme court ruled that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional. The vote was unanimous and made a huge impact on the history of education. Linda Carol Brown was in the center of it all. She was an American campaigner for equality in education. This law affected twenty-one states which had legally segregated schools. Now all schools would be a mixture of all races. -
1962 - Engel V. Vitale
This ruling states that school-sponsored prayer in public schools violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The Supreme Court believes it is unconstitutional to say a prayer and encourage recitation in public schools. Not all children are raised religiously or are of the same religion. For an educator to ask a student to pray to something they don't believe in or are comfortable doing is unfair and violates their First Amendment rights. -
1972 - Title IX
This civil rights law is a part of the education amendments of 1972. This law prohibits sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity) discrimination in any education or activity receiving federal financial assistance. This helps kids feel confident in school to participate in any sport or extracurricular activity even if it is dominantly one gender. It also makes them feel safe to know that discrimination of any kind is not tolerated. -
1975 - Goss V. Lopez
Goss V. Lopez ruled that under the 14th Amendment's due process clause, public school students facing suspensions are entitled to notice and a hearing. This stemmed from nine students destroying school property and disrupting the learning environment. The vote was 5-4 majority believed the school had violated the student's rights to due process by not holding a hearing before the suspension. -
1975 - Education of all Handicapped Children Act
The education of all handicapped children act (EHA) is considered a federal law. It requires public schools to provide children with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21 with the appropriate educational services. Children with any physical or mental disability can get the same education a child with no disability receives just in a way that works best for them to understand. In 1990, the United States Congress reauthorized EHA and changed the name to IDEA (Public Law No. 94-142). -
1982 - Plyler V. Doe
This ruling did not allow the state to withhold funds from schools that were teaching undocumented immigrant children. Although the vote was not unanimous the decision was 5-4. The court believed this was a violation of the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Because of this law, undocumented children are able to get an education. -
1985 - New Jersey V. T.L.O
This ruling allows public school officials to search a student without a warrant. For a search to be justified, school officials must have reasonable suspicion that the student has violated either the law or school rules. The supreme court ruled 6-3 issued by Justice White. Although it may seem like an invasion of privacy, this is what has to be done to ensure the student's safety. If you have nothing to hide from them, there is no reason to worry or argue about it. -
1986 - Bethel School District #43 V. Fraser
On July 7th, 1986, the supreme court ruled 7-2 that the school did not violate a student's freedom of speech. This all started when student Matthew Fraser gave a vulgar and lewd speech at a school assembly with over 600 students present. School officials stated he violated the school's policy prohibiting the use of obscene language. The supreme court said that the student's rights are not equivalent to an adult's freedom of speech. -
1988 - Hazelwood School District V. Kuhlmeier
Schools can restrict what is published in a student newspaper if the paper has not been established as a public forum. The supreme court ruled 5-3 and stated no first amendment rights were violated as the paper is sponsored by the school. They have the right to make changes they deem necessary to the content before publishing. The court did not believe the newspaper was intended as a public forum but rather for journalism students to write articles, subject to school editing. -
2002 - Board of Ed. of Independent School Dist. No. 92 of Pottawatomie City. V. Earls
The law requires all middle and high school students to complete a drug test to participate in extracurricular activities. The supreme court agreed 5-4 that the policy is reasonable as the school's interest is to prevent drug use among students. Justice Thomas, one of the judges on the supreme court, stated, "Within the limits of the Fourth Amendment, local school boards must assess the desirability of drug testing schoolchildren." This is being done to ensure the safety of the kids.
