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It mandated towns of a certain size to hire a schoolmaster and teach reading and writing in MA. -
The responsibility for education primarily lies with states and localities. Federal ordinances in 1785 and 1787 allocated substantial land to new states, provided they set aside some for public schools. Land grants helped establish schools and foster stable communities with local governance, emphasizing the early federal leaders' view of education as vital for nation-building. -
The Common School Movement, spanning from 1830 to 1872, aimed to establish a free, public school system available to all white children. Motivated by the goal of promoting literacy, civic duty, and moral development, it focused on state-funded, non-sectarian education. -
One of the first schools for freed individuals was established in North Carolina in 1862, on Roanoke Island, following the Union's capture of the area. Martha Culling, a formerly enslaved person, opened the school, serving 120 students. By 1863, six Black schools were operating, educating over 1,200 children and adults. -
In 1867, the first U.S. Department of Education was established under President Andrew Johnson. Its main purpose was to collect and distribute educational statistics to assist states in improving their school systems. Initially set up as a department, it was later downgraded to the Office of Education and incorporated within the Department of the Interior. This represented an early but brief attempt at a federal role in education. -
The Industrial Revolution significantly impacted American education by increasing the demand for skilled workers. This led to more vocational training programs and the expansion of public education. Universities also adapted their curricula to prepare students for new industries and technologies. -
The years between 1900 and 1910 marked an important period for the development and implementation of compulsory education laws in the United States. Although challenges persisted, especially in the South concerning high school attendance, these laws were crucial in expanding access to education and addressing issues related to child labor. -
In 1911, the United States Congress established the Joint Immigration Commission, which was the first to use the term “Americanization” as a synonym for “assimilation.” Congress enacted a law that mandated immigrants to assimilate into American culture and language, creating a "melting pot". Following this, more than thirty states passed laws requiring public schools to implement Americanization programs. -
In August 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt made available $400,000 to the U.S. Office of
Education (part of the Federal Security Agency) and the Children's Bureau (part of the Labor Department) "for the promotion of and coordination of [Extended School Services] programs for the care of children of working mothers." -
The National Defense Education Act (NDEA) of 1958 was a landmark piece of federal legislation enacted to bolster American education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, as well as foreign languages, in elementary and secondary education. The law provided federal funding for these areas to improve the nation's defense capabilities. -
Head Start was established in 1965 to enhance school readiness for children aged three to five from low-income families by providing high-quality, comprehensive services that support the development of the whole child. -
IDEA was originally enacted by Congress in 1975 to ensure that children with disabilities have the opportunity to receive a free, appropriate public education, just like other children. The law has undergone numerous revisions over the years. -
The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), enacted in 2001 and signed into law in 2002, was a federal law that significantly impacted education in the United States. It focused on closing the achievement gap between different student groups, holding schools accountable for student progress, and improving teacher quality.