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In 1964 The Civil Rights Act was signed into law and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion or national origin. This event made it illegal to discriminate against many minorities, and thus laid down the foundation for African Americans to insist that their history and culture be included in school studies.
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On April 9, 1965, president Lyndon Johnson helps to fund children in poverty including the introduction of bilingual studies. By funding schools to be able to support and educate children that previously could not attend, many more children could be taught, and also many minorities could infuse schools with their different cultural background and experiences, resulting in a more diverse environment.
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Children are now tested in their primary language before placing them in special education to ensure that it is not a cognitive disability but a language development and education opportunity. This was the result of the case of Diana v. California State Board.
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The Rehabilitation Act is signed into law providing more funding to help research and include people with disabilities into public areas such as schools. It required accessibility to schools for people with disabilities.
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The Refugee Act of 1980 is signed into law. This brings a large portion of minorities into classrooms forcing them to become more diverse.
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Columbia College begins admitting women. This is the last Ivy League to begin admitting women into their college. To me, the education of women means better jobs and higher pay, for women to become fully independent.
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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) gets signed into law. This forces workplaces and schools to provide reasonable accommodations to those with disabilities. It becomes illegal not to put forth a good faith effort to accommodate them. In my workplace, we have things like sit-stand desks to accommodate those with a medical need for it.
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President Bill Clinton signs the Improving America's Schools Act (IASA) which aims to fund more immigrant and bilingual students, and also aims at improving technology for education in schools.
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President George W. Bush replaces the Bilingual Education act of 1968 and attempts to enforce education improvements by testing and holding schools responsible for not educating students to an acceptable level. This was particular necessary for schools located in high poverty areas.
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Legislators pass an increase in wages for Arizona teachers as well as a plan for better school funding. I remember this one happening, and the basis was that Arizona could not fill teacher jobs, attract, or retain teachers that are educating the future children of our country. Education alone, including multicultural education is not possible without teachers in their jobs.
