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The Cardinal Principles Report of 1918
For the first time, educational leaders create a research study based on the understanding that the growing high school population is both diverse and vast. By creating the new core knowledge system they also create a complex way to develop a whole student and not just focus on rigorous academics aimed at the elite population. Finally, there is a base for an educational curriculum aimed for the general public (Kaplan & Owings, 2015. p. 142). -
Brown v. The Board of Education
In this court case, there is finally a determination that proves "separate, but equal" is "inherently unequal" propelling a civil rights movement within education to take hold. The fight wasn't over, but this is the first time that African Americans had a court case prove that they had legal recourse to fight for desegregated, higher education for their children (Kaplan & Owings, 2015, p. 152) -
A Nation at Risk
The public grew more concerned with the global place that the United States had on the education stage and therefore a stronger focus could also be made on education funds and support.This report propelled the current academic standardized testing rituals forward which still stand today. Though the research was convoluted, the success in this report was the way that education could take center stage and hold importance in future public and political eyes (Kaplan & Owings, 2015, p. 163) -
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
Based on NCLB, schools had to meet certain proficiencies, but unfortunately the lines were hazy and confusing because they were up to each state. It was meant to create proper accountability, but has caused a lot of confusion across the board. This has impacted the way teachers teach, the testing and pressure put on students and a comparison amongst peer groups that isn't always clear. Some improvements have mostly been seen in elementary levels so far (Kaplan & Owings, 2015, p. 165) -
Race to the Top
Race to the Top led to Common Core. Many teachers had to scramble to learn the new framework thrust upon them, the public has consistently pushed back and there is fear that this could lead to a national curriculum, not localized education. These standards very heavily tied teacher evaluations to student achievement, which is a controversial idea in itself and continues to place a lot of pressure on teachers to quickly adapt without updated training (Kaplan & Owings, 2015, p. 166).
