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Northwest Land Ordinance, 1785
The ordinance provided a way to set land aside for schools and to fund public education by the selling of the land. In many townships section 16 is where the school is still located today. -
The Impact of Jefferson, Rush, & Webster
Jefferson and Rush had a vision of public education and worked to support education. Webster wrote one of the first American textbooks. -
The Impact of Horace Mann
Horace Mann created the Common School Movement. This movement brought better schools promoting teacher training and standards. He also thought taxation should support schools. He improved the schools in Massachusetts. http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/ed416/ae3.html -
Population Growth and Immigration in the 19th century
In the 19th century many immigrates came to America for the free public education. This flooded the schools with students who spoke different languages. The schools became a place to teach English and to be an American. This focus is still in place today. https://www.raceforward.org/research/reports/historical-timeline-public-education-us -
The Progressive Reform Movement
The Progressive reform focus was to address social ills and injustices by education reform. A lot of schools were established to serve the growing population and secondary schools were also built. When secondary schools were established the American workforce was more educated. -
Brown vs. Board of Education, 1954
This ruling was supposed to desegregate all schools in America. It was ruled that separate and equal did not work. This ruling lead the way to true desegregated that is in the schools today. http://www.educationnews.org/education-policy-and-politics/american-public-education-an-origin-story/ -
The Impact of John Dewey
John Dewey believed that children learn by hands on activities. Founder of pragmatism -
Sputnik and NDEA,
After the Russians successfully launched Sputnik the American people were more interested in education. This allowed for the National Defense Education Act of 1958 to pass into law. The act supported higher education. -
The Civil Rights Movement & The War on Poverty
President Johnson used the civil rights movement and his war on poverty to end segregation. The president did this by withholding money till the states complied. -
Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, 1975
This act allowed students with disabilities to receive public education. This act has been added to over the years. Today 60% of students with disabilities are in regular classrooms https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/idea35/index.html This is the most important event in ed history -
A Nation at Risk Report, 1983
President Bush releases the report stating that American schools are failing. This leads to increased testing. -
The Standards Movement
States work together to put standards in English and math so all schools teach the same thing. -
Growth of Standardized Testing
More testing is required putting pressure on teachers and students. Curriculum is changed so students are test ready. -
No Child Left Behind, 2001
States were required to test students in math and reading. Gives states flexibility to use federal funding. The act also gave parents’ choice of schools. States must adapt standards. http://www.k12.wa.us/esea/NCLB.aspx -
ESSA 2015
ESSA returned evaluation of assessments to the states. The act was supposed to fix some of the problems of No Child Left Behind. This act will be in effect as I start teaching.
