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Old Deluder Satan Act of 1647
After the Pilgrims arrived in what is now the United States they began to make laws to help educate the children. In 647 the Massachusetts General Court passed this Act which required communities of 50 or more families to teach children how to read and write. The primary focus was for the kids to learn how to read the Bible. Even though not following the law would require a fine from the town, not all towns followed it. -
A Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge
Thomas Jefferson proposed this Bill to create a more systematic educational system. This bill was the beginning of public education and it also gave scholarships for those who were the "brightest" in order to enter a prestige school. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
This law made segregation legal in the state of Louisiana allowing schools to segregate by race. This law not only included racial segregation in schools but also in public transportation, theaters, etc. It worked under what is known as the "separate but equal" doctrine. It affected negatively many African American citizens. -
Brown v. the Board of Education, Topeka
Abolished racial segregation in schools between black and white students. It declared that these segregational laws went against the Constitutional 14th Amendment. The Supreme Court also showed that it created psychological harm to the students. -
Title IX
This landmark registration prohibited schools from discriminating students and employees based on sex. It showed that students should be fairly treated regardless of sex even in athletic events. This allowed women to have more participation at school and especially in the sports. -
Lau v. Nichols
Non-english speaking students Chinese American students went to the Supreme Court because they were denied to receive additional enligsh classes. The Supreme court relied on Section 601 of the 1964 Civil Rights Act to prove that this action against providing these services was discriminating against their nationality. -
Education of all Handicapped children Act
It gave equal rights to education for children who were physically or mentally disabled. It also said that public schools were required to evaluate handicapped children and create an educational plan to help the children succeed. It also required children to be out into less restricting environments. This allowed handicapped children to have a better opportunity to learn. -
Plyler v. Doe
This law was passed so that schools would not be able to deny access to public education to students despite their immigration status.In 1975 a school in texas denied access to illegal students to enroll.The Supreme court notice that this law was against Constitutional Amendment number 14 which says that there should be equal protection of the laws for any person. -
Franklin v. Gwinnett County Public Schools
After a high school female student was sexually harassed by her teacher she decided to go to court and filed a report even though the school administration told her not to. The Supreme Court claimed that this action went against Title IX. -
Abbott v. Burke
A group of educators in New Jersey said that the funding for schools in New Jersey was not constitutional since it did not create an equal education for students of poor communities and wealthy communities. The Supreme Court did find this unconstitutional and made the state implement programs to help with these funding differences.
