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First Public School
Boston Latin School, in Massachusetts, opens as the first public secondary school. The school is still open as teaches a "contemporary classical education". http://www.bls.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=206116&type=d -
The American Academy
Benjamin Franklin founded the American Academy. This replaced the Latin grammar schools in the colonies. With a curriculum that was both classical and modern, and included courses as history, geography, and modern as well as classical languages, it became the new model of education. http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/features/1700s/penn1700s.html -
The Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights of the Constitution was passed in 1791. No mention is made of education in any of the amendments. However, the 10th Amendment states that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states or to the people. Therefore, education became a function of the state rather than the federal government. This allows for a variety of educational standards across the United States. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html -
First National Teachers' Union Created
The National Teachers Association was founded by Thomas Valentine. It began with only 100 members. Today, it is known as The National Education Association and has a membership of 3.2 million educators. The purpose of the union is to protect the rights and integrity of professional educators. http://www.nea.org/home/1704.htm http://www.nea.org/home/1704.htm -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson declared that segregation was legal in public institutions, including public schools. This lead to separate, inferior schools for African American children. http://www.oyez.org/cases/1851-1900/1895/1895_210 -
Pierce v. Society of Sisters
The Compulsory Education Act of 1922 required that children attend the public schools in the district in which they resided. In the case of Pierce v. Society of Sisters, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that it was acceptable for students to attend private or parochial schools instead of public schools. This allowed parent to have more control in regards to the education of their children. http://www.oyez.org/cases/1901-1939/1924/19
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1901-1939/1924/1924_583 -
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka reversed the 1896 "separate but equal" decision of Plessy v. Ferguson. This outlawed segregation in public schools. http://www.oyez.org/cases/1950-1959/1952/1952_1/
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A Nation at Risk
A Nation at Risk: The Imperative For Educational Reform is the title of 1983 report that evaluated President Ronald Reagan's National Commission on Excellence in Education. Its publication is considered a landmark event in American educational history. This report was the first official report that publicized the fact that American schools were failing. This began a frenzy of educational reforms across the country. http://datacenter.spps.org/uploads/sotw_a_nation_at_risk_1983.pdf -
No Child Left Behind Act
Signed into law by President George W. Bush, No Child Left Behind increases federal funding for education and brings about standards-based reform. Supporters argue that it has increased schools' accountability, while some opponents say that it has made testing the focus of education, at the expense of critical thinking. http://www2.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml -
Race to the Top
Race to the Top is a U.S. Department of Education contest created to encourage reform in state and local education. It is part of the Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and was announced by President Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on July 24, 2009. States were awarded points for educational policies, such as performance-based standards, complying with Common Core standards, and turning around the low performing schools. http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/index.html
