History of Education in America

  • The first "free school" in Virginia opens. However, education in the Southern colonies is more typically provided at home by parents or tutors.

    American Educational History Timeline, www.eds-resources.com/educationhistorytimeline.html.
  • Boston English High School, one of the first public high schools in the U.S., opens.

    American Educational History Timeline, www.eds-resources.com/educationhistorytimeline.html.
  • In order to improve high school graduation rates, the Columbus Ohio School Board authorizes the creation of junior high schools. Indianola Junior High School opens that fall and becomes the first junior high school in the U.S.

    American Educational History Timeline, www.eds-resources.com/educationhistorytimeline.html.
  • All states have laws providing funds for transporting children to school.

    American Educational History Timeline, www.eds-resources.com/educationhistorytimeline.html.
  • Jean Piaget's The Child's Conception of the World is published. His theory of cognitive development becomes an important influence in American developmental psychology and education.

    American Educational History Timeline, www.eds-resources.com/educationhistorytimeline.html.
  • Brown v. Board of Education

    On May 17th, the U.S. Supreme Court announces its decision in the case of Brown v. Board. of Education of Topeka, ruling that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal," thus overturning its previous ruling in the 1896 case of Plessy v. Ferguson. American Educational History Timeline, www.eds-resources.com/educationhistorytimeline.html.
  • First grader Ruby Bridges is the first African American to attend William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. She becomes a class of one as parents remove all Caucasian students from the school.

    American Educational History Timeline, www.eds-resources.com/educationhistorytimeline.html.
  • U. S. Supreme Court reaffirms Engel v. Vitale by ruling that "no state law or school board may require that passages from the Bible be read or that the Lord's Prayer be recited in the public schools

    American Educational History Timeline, www.eds-resources.com/educationhistorytimeline.html.
  • In response to the large number of Cuban immigrant children arriving in Miami after the Cuban Revolution, Coral Way Elementary School starts the first bilingual and bicultural public school in the United States.

    American Educational History Timeline, www.eds-resources.com/educationhistorytimeline.html.
  • Project Head Start, a preschool education program for children from low-income families, begins as an eight-week summer program.

    American Educational History Timeline, www.eds-resources.com/educationhistorytimeline.html.
  • The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) is passed. Part of Lyndon Johnson's "War on Poverty," it provides federal funds to help low-income students, which results in the initiation of educational programs such as Title I and bilingual education.

    American Educational History Timeline, www.eds-resources.com/educationhistorytimeline.html.
  • CompuHigh Whitmorte is founded. It claims to be the first online high school.

    American Educational History Timeline, www.eds-resources.com/educationhistorytimeline.html.
  • Educators come together to form the National Career Academy Coalition.

    American Educational History Timeline, www.eds-resources.com/educationhistorytimeline.html.
  • The Higher Education Act is again amended and reauthorized, expanding access to higher education for low and middle income students, providing additional funds for graduate studies, and increasing accountability.

    American Educational History Timeline, www.eds-resources.com/educationhistorytimeline.html.
  • The International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL), a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing K-12 online education, is "launched as a formal corporate entity."

    American Educational History Timeline, www.eds-resources.com/educationhistorytimeline.html.