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*Horace Mann
Horace Mann was known as the Father of the Common School Movement. He was the first secretary of the state board of education in Massachusetts. His vision was to create a unified, free education system for all children.
Mann's influence is still impacting education today. Every state has its own board of education. Citizens today view education as a right for all and something they need to contribute to.
http://www.pbs.org/onlyateacher/horace.html -
Population Growth and Immigration
An influx of immigrants in the 19th Century changed the makeup of the American education system. Many of the immigrant groups created their own schools and taught in their native language. This influx affected future educational policy. -
Common Schools
Common Schools taught the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic. They were based in the community and were usually characterized by the regional differences of the area. -
Impact of Industrialization on Education
Industrialization and the growth of factories had an impact on the format and structure of the school day. Bells were implemented to signal class changes and students were grouped according to ages -
Commitee of Ten
The Committee of Ten was put together by the National Education Association. It created a curriculum to help prepare students for college. -
Impact of John Dewey
John Dewey was an advocate for more child centered education and hands on activities in learning. He was instrumental in the Progressive movement in education. -
Impact of World War II
The number of female teachers grew as male teachers left for the war. The number of students leaving school to work for the war effort increased dramatically -
*Brown vs. Board of Education
The supreme court ruled that segregated public schools violated the Equal protection clause of the 14th amendment. It became unconstitutional for schools to be segregated and integration became a federal law.
This is still impacting education because it became a springboard for equality in schools in the form of gender equality, socioeconomic equality and a continual fight for race equality.
http://www.civilrights.org/education/brown/ -
Sputnik and NDEA
The Soviet launch of Sputnik impacted the United States educational system. Americans did not want to be behind the Soviets and NDEA was signed which provided money to the American education system. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
This was the first time that federal funding was allocated for elementary and secondary education. Some of the important parts of the act were the Federal Pell Grant program and the preschool Headstart Program. -
* Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act 1975
IDEA opened the door for children with disabilities to have the right to a full education. The act requires schools to educate students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment possible.
Today, a majority of students with disabilities are educated in the general education classroom. It has allowed many students with disabilities to reach their full potential and attend college and beyond.
http://idea.ed.gov/ -
*A Nation at Risk
A Nation at Risk was a report written during Ronald Reagan's presidency. The main points of the report indicated that the American Education system was at risk and needed an overhaul. Some of the changes included stricter graduation requirements, more testing, and longer school days.
This report is still impacting education because the American education system is still viewed as being at risk and in need of change. It set a tone for future reforms.
https://www2.ed.gov/pubs/NatAtRisk/risk.html -
The Standards Movement
Since the Nation at Risk report there has been a desire for uniformity in teaching and learning. Educational standards are academic, content, and performance based benchmarks that guide the education of all students. -
*No Child Left Behind
The No Child Left Behind Act required teachers to be highly qualified to teach subjects and ensured failing schools were held accountable. Under this law, states were required to test students in reading and math in grades 3–8 and once in high school.
This is still impacting education because testing of students is still highly used in schools. Waivers to bypass a schools failing grade are still being discussed.
http://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/no-child-left-behind/index.html -
ESSA
The Every Student Succeeds Act was signed by President Barack Obama to replace the No Child Left Behind Act.
