General court of Massachusetts Bay Colony decrees that towns of 50 people must provide access to an elementary school. Towns of 100 must provide access to a Latin school.
Thomas Jefferson proposes two-track system for education; one for laborers and one for the educated
Pennsylvania State Constitution calls for free public education for the poor. Wealthy citizens are required to pay for their children's education
New York Public School Society formed. Education follows a model whereby one Master teacher teaches rote lessons to the older students who, in turn, teach the same lessons to the younger students
First public high school opens in Boston
1820-1860 - The Industrial revolution fuels the need for a docile & obedient workforce. Companies look to public education to fill their needs
Plessy v. Ferguson allows for racial segregation in Louisiana public schools
US Supreme Court requires CA to provide public education to the children of Chinese immigrants
Smith-Hughs Act implements federal funding for vocational education
1930 - 1950 - NAACP files suit over unequal teacher pay in the Southern states. Southern states realize they are losing African-American labor to Nothern cities
Brown v. the Board of Education states that segregated schools are inherently unequal
Segregated schools are unequsl
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
Milliken v. Bradley. A Supreme Court made up of Richard Nixon's appointees rules that schools may not be desegregated across school districts
Proposition 187 makes it illegal in CA for illegal immigrants to attend public schools. Federal courts find it unconstitutional
Prop 209 passes making affirmative action illegal in CA
NCLB signed into law
Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education. US Supreme Court rules that race cannot be a determining factor in assigning students to high school
