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Harvard College
Harvard College became the first higher education institution in the United States. It was established in Newtowne, which is now Cambridge, Massachusettes. -
Northwest Land Ordinance
The Northwest Land Ordinance of 1785 specified that the western territories were to be divided into townships, each composing of 640-acre sections; and for each townshipe, the sixteenth section was to be set aside for the use of public schools. -
Common Schools
Common Schools were public schools during the Colonial Era. This movement was the push for free, public education. It was the product of economical, political, and social factors. This school system is the system we use today.
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Horace Mann
Horace Mann was a strong believer in free public education and had a major impact on Common Schools. He put forth a major effort towards increased funding of public schools and better training for teachers. Through the "Common School Journal", Mann shared with the nation the importance of free public education. -
Committee of Ten
The Committee of Ten, formed by the National Education Association, was established to standardize high school curriculum. The committee, chaired by Charles Eliot, determined that the goal of high school was to prepare all students to do well in life, contributing to their own well-being and society's good, and to prepare students for college. -
John Dewey
John Dewey wrote the book, "Democracy and Education: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education." This book illustrated Dewey's views on the progressive education movement, which in return, helped advance the movement. This educational movement influenced schools to be more effective agents of democracy. -
The Progressive Reform Movement
The Progressive Reform Movement is probably most known for passing the law on mandatory school attendance. This made attending school no longer an option, but required by all students. This movement focused, on the concept of The Whole Child, preparing children to fully participate in a democratic society, and physical as well as academic training.
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World War 2 - GI Bill
Before World War 2, not many veterans or military personel attended college. When FDR, signed off on the GI Bill veteran college attendance dramatically increased. This also caused the college population to double. At last, the tradition that a college education was only for the wealthy was broken.
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Brown vs. Board of Education
The Supreme Court Ruling in Brown vs. Board of Education ruled that segregation in schools was unconstitutional. This meant that blacks and whites were to be integrated in the educational system. Although a majority of the white community was not happy with this decision and still felt superior to black people, this was a step in the right direction for equal educational opportunity in America.
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Sputnik and the National Defense Education Act (NDEA)
Because of the launching of Sputnik by the Soviet Union in 1957, science and science education become important concerns in the U.S. This resulted in the passing of the National Defense Education Act (NDEA) in 1958. This law caused an increase in funding for scientific research as well as science, mathematics, and foreign language education. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) helped to provide federal funds to help low-income students. This resulted in the establishment of educational programs such as Title 1. -
Education of All Handicapped Children Act (PL 94-142)
The Education of All Handicapped Children Act (PL 94-142) introduced the concept of the "least restrictive environment" for handicapped children. This act also required that free, public education must be tailored to the student's individual needs. -
"A Nation at Risk" Report
The "A Nation at Risk" report analyzed the quality of education in the United States. This report called for changes in public education and teacher training. Among these changes and recommendations included expanding high school requirements to include studying computer science. -
University of Phoenix
The University of Phoenix established an "online campus" and became the first university to offer online bachelor's and master's degrees. It became the largest private university in North America. -
The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act
The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act provided more than 90-billion dollars for education. Nearly half of that funding went to local school districts to prevent layoffs and to modernize and update schools. The act saved or created many K-12 and higher education jobs across the United States.
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