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Creation of Common Schools
The creation of the Common School strikes me as the beginning of all public education. While it was molded, shaped, and drastically changed in the intervening years, it's creation is the great-grandfather of America's public school system. Without the creation of the common school, it is unclear as to how public schooling would have progressed throughout the decades. -
Brown v. The Board of Education
Civil rights has played such a large part in America's educational history. However, Brown v. The Board of Education is the beginning of the end of racial segregation in the public school system. This appears to have heavily led to the rest of the Civil Right desegregation movement. For me, the biggest factor in this ruling was when it was declared that it is the public school's duty to "make [the students] aware of cultural values" (Kalplan 152), starting with educational equality. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act was the starting point of America realizing that lower class families were struggling to reap the benefits of the public education system. This act was important in giving economically disadvantaged children a chance to get a head start in the system at a younger age. It also gave a helping hand for older students in important areas such as reading and math. It was key in helping society realize they needed to play a larger role to help this population. -
PL 94-142
PL 94-142 was a huge step in public education for children with disabilities. It defined their needs and set up programs to benefit children with all types of special needs to meet their highest potential. I also believe this program is highly responsible for greater understanding, respect, and tolerance of those with special needs. I also played a role in destigmatizing this population. It was a spectacular step forward for increased tolerance in American society. -
No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
NCLB seems to be an accumulation of many past acts in the American public school system. It updated and modernized many past education reforms to decrease "unequal achievement" among low income, minority, and English as a second language students as well as student with disabilities (Kaplan 164). It put into place policies to hold schools responsible for educating their students fairly and without prejudice and for ensuring their teachers were properly trained and well educated.
