-
Homer Plessy an African American passenger refused to seat in the areas for black people. He was arrested and charged with violating the Separate Car Act. The Supreme Court allowed for “equal but separate accommodations for white and colored races.” This allowed racial segregation to be legal. -
Linda Brown was denied admission into a white elementary school. NAACP took similar cases and collectively filed a class-action known as Brown v. Board to represent school segregation as a national issue. They won the case, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously. Racial segregation of children in public schools is unconstitutional, violating the 14th Amendment. This entitled all children to receive quality education regardless of their racial status. -
The issue was if reading nondenominational prayer at school violate the First Amendment, establish of religion clause. The Supreme Court held that reciting prayers in public school was unconstitutional. -
Title IX prohibits federally funded educational institutions from discriminating against students or employees based on sex. Before this there was few opportunities for female athletes. In 1972 there was just 30,000 women compared to 170,000 men in NCAA sports. Title IX would change this requiring fair and equal treatment to all sexes. -
Students in Ohio were given 10-day suspension from school. The principal did not talk to the students before giving the suspensions. The issue is if suspension without preliminary hearings violate students 14th amendment. The court held that it do s violate, the students should at least be given a notice and a chance to tell their story.
-
This act require all federal funded public schools to provide equal access to education and one free meal a day for children with physical or mental disabilities. Before this law many children with disabilities were denied education, in 1970 only one in five children with disabilities received education. After the act public schools were required to evaluate children with disabilities and create an education plan unique to them. -
Texas had a law that withheld funds from schools that used it for the education of children who were residing illegally. A case-action lawsuit was filed on behalf of students from Mexico who were residing in Smith county, Texas. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of these students. Withholding funds for these students violated the Equal Protection Clause.This opened up doors for free public education no matter the students immigration status. -
Grutter applied to a law school with 3.8 GPA and LSAT score of 161, she was denied. The school admitted that race is a factor for admissions, so that they can achieve diversity. The Supreme Court decided to permit the use of racial preference, for school to have diversity.