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First Compulsory School Law
Massachusetts passes America's first compulsory school law, requiring its towns and cities to offer a primary school and for its children to attend. -
Native American Boarding Schools
Progressing far into the early 20th century, boarding and reform schools were established for Native Americans with a goal of simulation. It was made illegal for Native Americans to be taught in their own languages. Army Captain Richard Henry Pratt, founder of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, stated his goal of reform to be to “Kill the Indian in him, and save the man.” -
Jim Crow
Lasting until the Civil Rights era in the mid 1960s, the Jim Crow Laws allowed for legal segregation of blacks and whites, primarily in Southern States. While Jim Crow refers to a set of laws, such as separate schools for blacks and whites (Florida) and the conviction and fining of teachers who taught in schools with mixed races (Oklahoma), it is also used to refer to the system that categorized black people as second class citizens and the social codes employed at that time. -
The Progressive Era
The Progressive Era (1890-1920) was a time of social activism and reform, with educated single women taking the lead in areas of need in social work. Notable is Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr's founding of the settlement house the Hull House and the work of John Dewey. -
The Committee of Ten
With a goal for a standard level of education, a group of ten educators came together to recommend a standard American education, with eight years of elementary school and four years of high school. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
In Plessy v. Ferguson, the Jim Crow laws continued to be upheld, ruling that it was constitutional to separate whites and blacks. It is this case that is referred to with the phrase "separate but equal." Justice John Marshall Harlan was the only to dissent. -
Influence of John Dewey
John Dewey served as a major influencer of educational reform through his publications and experimental school. An important idea from Dewey included the assertion that to teach to the curriculum was flawed, and that educators should instead teach to the child. His works are still widely read and taught today. -
Scopes Monkey Trial
John Thomas Scopes was found guilty of teaching evolution in Dayton, Tennessee and was fined $100. The case serves as an example of the creation versus modern science debate. -
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
In this unanimous decision, it was determined that racial segregation in public schools violated the Fourteen Amendment of the Constitution. “Separate but equal” public schools were determined to be inherently unequal. -
The Sputnik Movement
In response to Russia's launching of the Sputnik satellite, Americans sought to reform and raise the expectations of math and science instruction in the K-12 setting with a goal of America remaining competitive in their scientific advancements on a world scale. -
The Little Rock Nine
In response to Brown v. Board of Education, nine black students enrolled at a formally all-white high school in Little Rock, Arkansas. Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus blocked their entry with the Arkansas National Guard, to which President Dwight D. Eisenhower responded to by sending federal troops to escort them to school. -
Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act is passed, outlawing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. -
Epperson v. Arkansas
Arkansas' law prohibiting the teaching of evolution in schools is found to be unconstitutional. It was found that "A State's right to prescribe the public school curriculum does not include the right to prohibit teaching a scientific theory or doctrine for reasons that run counter to the principles of the First Amendment." -
Title IX
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 becomes law, prohibiting discrimination based on sex in all aspects of education. -
Native American Languages Act
Since the passage of this law in 1990, it has become federal policy to allow and promote the education of Native Americans through Native American languages. -
Indian Education for All
Montana signed House Bill 528 (MCA 20-1-501) into law, commonly referred to as Indian Education for All. The purpose of this bill is to encourage all Montanans to gain a knowledge and understanding of American Indian culture and history, for educational institutions to work together with Montana tribes, and for educators to receive the training needed in order to better relate to and understand Native American students and their families. -
No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind act requires states to test students in reading and math in grades 3-8. Students were expected to meet or exceed state standards, with this requirement being tied to federal funding. -
Common Core State Standards Initiative
Common Core State Standards exist as a set of guidelines for what students should know and be able to do at the end of each K-12 grade level in math and English. They have thus far been adopted by 41 states. -
Next Generation Science Standards
The Next Generation Science Standards are a K-12 framework of three dimensions of science education: core ideas, science and engineering practices, and crosscutting concepts. They have thus far been adopted by 19 states.
