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Massachusetts created the first state Board of Education. Horace Mann pushed the movement to a statewide public education structure. He thought that education was essential for bridging social gaps, overcoming poverty, and overall creating a more equal society. Mann also believed that schools should be free to all citizens to provide opportunities to all Americans. https://www.publicschoolreview.com/blog/a-relevant-history-of-public-education-in-the-united-states -
The establishment of the federal Office of Education, President Andrew Johnson signed legislation creating the Department of Education. It was used to collect information about the nation's schools. It was later demoted to the Office of Education in the next year because of fears that the department had too much control over the local schools. https://www2.ed.gov/about/overview/focus/what.html -
The American Federation of Teachers was founded. It was made for educators, school personnel, and public employees. https://www.zippia.com/american-federation-teachers-careers-739672/history/ -
President Harry S. Truman signed the National School Lunch Act. This Act is a program available to all school students, and residential childcare. It gives kids lunches that meet federal requirements. https://www.ilsna.net/resources/schoolnutrition/historyschoollunch -
In Brown v. Board of Education, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools violated the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution. Ending the segregation in schools. https://www.britannica.com/event/Brown-v-Board-of-Education-of-Topeka -
The National Defense Education Act of 1958 became one of the most successful legislative initiatives in higher education. Made federal funding of higher education. It also increased public and private colleges and universities. https://youtu.be/ASyL6bNHq04?si=2CojWCxeZBEjfvSi https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Sputnik_Spurs_Passage_of_National_Defense_Education_Act.htm -
President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This act outlawed discrimination on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. It banned discriminatory practices everywhere. https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/civil-rights-act -
San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez. The court ruled that there was no constitutional right to equal education and that property taxes could be used to fund public schools. https://guides.loc.gov/latinx-civil-rights/sanantonio-isd-v-rodriguez -
No Child Left Behind Act federal law aimed at improving public primary and secondary schools, and their student performance. Increasing accountability for schools. https://www.britannica.com/topic/No-Child-Left-Behind-Act’ -
The Every Student Succeeds Act is the federal K-12 education law of the United States replacing the No Child Left Behind Act. The new act gave more flexibility. https://youtu.be/1nVyJLLD_-Q https://oese.ed.gov/families/essa/