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First Public School in America
The first public school in America was called the Boston Latin School located in Boston, Massachusetts. It was a boys-only school to help the students prepare for college. The school taught both basic academic skills and religion. Graduates of the school included famous Americans like John Hancock and Samuel Adams. Boston Latin School is still open today and serves both males and females.
Link to Boston Latin School's website:
https://www.bls.org/ -
Common School Movement
The common schools movement began in New England during the 1830's as reformers wanted more of a government role in the schooling of all children. They wanted to fund schools in every community with public money. Horace Mann, secretary of Massachusetts Board of Education, argued for a free, universal, and public school system to help educate the workforce.
Link to the article describing the common school movement:
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-ushistory/chapter/educational-reforms/ -
Plessy v. Ferguson
This case created the idea of "separate but equal" which allowed states to legally separate blacks and whites. This doctrine carried over into the school system where blacks and whites had separate schools. The schools were suppose to be equal and have the same facilities. However, more funding and better resources were given to the white schools rather than the black schools.
Video of court ruling:
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/civil-rights-act/ -
Brown v. Board of Education
This case reversed Plessy v. Ferguson ruling that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional and a violation of the 14th amendment. After showing and explaining how the separation of white and black schools was not equal, the court ruled to end segregation. However, it took many years before all schools became desegregated.
Link to a video describing the impact of this case:
https://youtu.be/TTGHLdr-iak -
National Defense Education Act
In response to the space race against the Soviets and the launch of the satellite Sputnik, this law provided federal funding to meet the needs of the United States' national defense. The hope was to reinforce and strengthen educational areas of science, math, and foreign languages. This act showed the expansion of the federal government's role in education through legislation.
Website link to description of act: https://history.house.gov/HouseRecord/Detail/15032436195 -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
This law funds primary and secondary education as a part of equal access to quality education. It focuses on high standards and accountability for all schools by using funds for professional development, instructional materials and resources, and promotion of parental involvement. It has been reauthorized by the government every five years since 1965 when it was enacted.
Article link discussing the changes made to the act: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ759480 -
Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972
Under this law, discrimination based on sex is prohibited in federally funded education programs. This act requires schools to carry out procedures for students to be able to file complaints of sex discrimination and sexual harassment. It protects all students to ensure that both male and female students have an equal education.
Website for Know Your IX, a group advocating for the end of campus gender-based violence:
https://www.knowyourix.org/join-the-movement/ -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
This feral law requires public schools to provide educational services for children between the ages of 3 and 21 with disabilities. States with special education programs that comply with the guidelines will receive extra funding for these programs. Over the years, this act has expanded and strengthened over the years.
Link to the copy of this act: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-89/pdf/STATUTE-89-Pg773.pdf -
Standards Movement
The publication of "A Nation at Risk" came out in 1983 detailing how American students were doing poorly in academics compared to other countries and how schools were suffering from uneven standards. After this report came out, a reform called for clear and measurable standards for all students. The curriculum, assessments, and professional development all changed to align to the standards across the United States.
Link for "A Nation at Risk" report: https://www2.ed.gov/pubs/NatAtRisk/risk.html -
No Child Left Behind
In hopes of closing student achievement gaps, the No Child Left Behind Act focuses on providing children with an equal opportunity to achieve a high-quality education. The law emphasizes accountability, flexibility, research-based education, and parent options. It also requires students to be tested in reading and math from third through eighth grade as well as once in high school.
Video link on the debate over the No Child Left Behind Act:
https://youtu.be/pa7UFJ2v18A