History of Multicultural Education

By randyarmenta
  • 1963 - Samuel A. Kirk uses the term "learning disability" at a Chicago conference on children with perceptual disorders. The term sticks, and in 1964, the Learning Disabilities Association of America is formed.

    1963 - Samuel A. Kirk uses the term "learning disability" at a Chicago conference on children with perceptual disorders. The term sticks, and in 1964, the Learning Disabilities Association of America is formed.

    This was a significant event for learning disabled people who had finally been recognized that special attention and education must be implemented to help learning disabled students. It created a new organization focused on helping those with learning disabilities that still stands today.
  • 1963 - 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.

    1963 - 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.

    This was in important event in the inception of bilingual education in the United States, creating an opportunity for under-served immigrant children who don't speak English to gain an education in their first language.
  • 1964 - The Civil Rights Act becomes law. It prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion or national origin.

    1964 - The Civil Rights Act becomes law. It prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion or national origin.

    By outlawing segregation, the civil rights act allowed students from all cultural backgrounds to attend the same school, resulting in multicultural integration that would influence American culture for future generations.
  • 1972 - Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 becomes law. Though many people associate this law only with girl's and women's participation in sports, Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in all aspects of education.

    1972 - Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 becomes law. Though many people associate this law only with girl's and women's participation in sports, Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in all aspects of education.

    This allows for greater education for women not just in the classroom, but outside of the classroom as well when it comes to cultural advantages within physical education and sports. This also affects the country's culture in the sense of popular culture where women's sports would later be televised.
  • 1972 - The Indian Education Act becomes law and establishes "a comprehensive approach to meeting the unique needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students"

    1972 - The Indian Education Act becomes law and establishes "a comprehensive approach to meeting the unique needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students"

    A highly marginalized group, native Americans, including Alaska, is recognized as an underserved demographic who has similar needs to all other Americans. The Indian education act is a step in the right direction in an attempt to address those needs.
  • 1974 - The Equal Educational Opportunities Act is passed.

    1974 - The Equal Educational Opportunities Act is passed.

    This act required public schools to provide equal education to all students, regardless of their ethnic or cultural background. The responsibility was placed on schools to serve their students in order to engage them in the education system.
  • 1982 - In the case of Plyler v. Doe, the U.S. Supreme Court rules in a 5-4 decision that Texas law denying access to public education for undocumented school-age children violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

    1982 - In the case of Plyler v. Doe, the U.S. Supreme Court rules in a 5-4 decision that Texas law denying access to public education for undocumented school-age children violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

    Requiring public schools to provide education for undocumented students by law provides a foundation and security for undocumented families and students that they will not be left behind in the American education system.
  • 1994 - The Improving America's Schools Act (IASA) is signed into law by President Bill Clinton on January 25th

    1994 - The Improving America's Schools Act (IASA) is signed into law by President Bill Clinton on January 25th

    Expanded funding for bilingual and immigrant education and drop out prevention, which is higher among people of color. This additional funding would help underserved immigrant communities up their standard of education.
  • 2014 - As schools open this fall, a demographic milestone is reached: minority students enrolled in K-12 public school classrooms outnumber non-Hispanic Caucasians.

    2014 - As schools open this fall, a demographic milestone is reached: minority students enrolled in K-12 public school classrooms outnumber non-Hispanic Caucasians.

    This is the first time an official consensus has been reported on ever changing multicultural demographics of education in the U.S. and provides new data that will help advance a multicultural education agenda.
  • 2015 - President Barack Obama announces a plan to allow two years of free community college for all American students. However, with Republicans in control, there seems little hope that this proposal will be implemented any time soon.

    2015 - President Barack Obama announces a plan to allow two years of free community college for all American students. However, with Republicans in control, there seems little hope that this proposal will be implemented any time soon.

    Although this didn't pass, it was publicly supported by the president. It also shows the trajectory and direction in which the conversation about community college is growing, which is in important role in continuing multicultural education after k-12.