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Noah Webster published 'Blue Back Speller'
The 'Blue Back Speller' regulated American English. It improved spelling and grammar. It taught kids how to read. It helped Americans speak and spell the same way, so they felt more like their own country. -
Horace Mann
Horace Mann saw that not all children had access to good schools. He believed this was unfair and worked to make public education free for all. His efforts helped start the idea that every child deserves a quality education, no matter their background. This changed the U.S. education system and made education more equal. -
Roberts v. City of Boston
Benjamin Roberts sued the city for not allowing his daughter, Sarah , to attend a whites-only school close to their home. The court ruled against the Roberts family, saying segregated schools were legal as long as they were equal. This case supported segregation in schools and affected the Plessy v. Ferguson decision. It also pushed for civil rights efforts to fight for school integration. -
John Hughes made a national system of Catholic Schools
John Hughes thought that public schools were unfair because they taught out of the Protestant Bible. He helped make the Catholic school system. This allowed students to be taught in ways their parents would teach them. -
"Separate but equal"
The Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson established the idea of "separate but equal." The court said that segregation was legal as long as the separate facilities were equal. In reality, schools and public services for Black Americans were nowhere near equal. The decision supported segregation for almost 60 years until it was overturned by Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. -
Work > School
Lots of kids chose to work instead of going to school because their families needed money. There weren't really any child labor laws at the time, so children worked long hours in factories and mines. Education wasn’t always free or required, especially for poor families. This led to a push for child labor laws that made school attendance important. -
World War l
Wilson depended on students to support the war effort. Schools were used to promote patriotism. Education became more focused on creating loyal citizens. Schools didn't just teach academics, but also taught social values and national identity. -
John Hylan
John believed education should be fair and accessible to all children. As mayor of New York City, he wanted more public funding for schools. His efforts made education more available to people from all backgrounds. -
Only English was being taught in schools
Chicago destroyed German books from schools. Teaching German was banned because people saw it as unpatriotic. It affected education by promoting only English. -
Half of NY residents weren't from there
About half of New York City’s residents were immigrants. They brought different languages and cultures. This created challenges for schools, which had to teach English. As a result, education in New York focused on Americanization. -
Integrated but still separated
After the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision, schools were legally required to integrate. However, most schools remained segregated. Some schools did integrate, but were still separate while in the same building. For example, they had separate classrooms, restrooms, and even sports teams. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education was a Supreme Court case that ruled racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. The Court said that “separate but equal” schools were not truly equal. This decision overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and was a major achievement for the Civil Rights Movement. It led to the desegregation of schools across the U.S. -
Eisenhower signed the NDEA
President Eisenhower signed the National Defense Education Act (NDEA) in response to the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik. The NDEA provided federal funding to improve education in science and math. It helped schools buy new materials, train teachers, and support students. -
Title IX
Title IX is a federal law that bans sex discrimination in any education program that receives federal funding. It helped make schools and colleges more equal by ensuring girls and women have the same opportunities as boys and men. Title IX led to more female students participating in athletics and increased access to courses. Overall, it greatly improved gender equality in education. -
Bilingual Education Act of 1974
This act was the first federal law to support teaching students in their native language while they learned English. It helped schools get funding to create programs for students who spoke little or no English. This act improved education for many immigrant children by recognizing their language needs and helping them succeed in school. -
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Higher Graduation Requirements
The U.S. responded to the report “A Nation at Risk” by raising high school graduation requirements. The report warned that American students were falling behind, so states started taking courses in core subjects like math, science, and English more seriously. This pushed for higher standards aimed to improve student achievement and better prepare them for college. As a result, schools became more focused on academic performance. -
Alternative Schools
Schools in New York began using a new model called the “choice system,” which allowed families to choose which school their child would attend instead of being assigned by location. Educators created small, specialized schools focused on student needs and interests. As a result, East Harlem schools began outperforming half of the city’s other schools. This success showed that school choice, smaller learning environments, and community involvement could improve education. -
Vouchers
Some U.S. cities and states began using school voucher programs to help low-income students attend private schools using public taxpayer money. These vouchers covered part or all of the tuition, giving families more school choices outside of the public system. Supporters said it helped students in struggling public schools get a better education. Critics argued it took money away from public schools. -
NY students could go to any school in the city
New York City expanded its school choice system, allowing students to apply to any public school in the city, not just the one in their neighborhood. This gave families more options, especially those in low-performing districts. It encouraged schools to improve in order to attract students. While it helped many students find better educational fits, it also increased competition. Overall, it changed the education system by promoting choice and diversity. -
Vouchers for religious schools
Cleveland, Ohio created one of the first school voucher programs in the U.S. that allowed low-income students to use vouchers to attend religious schools. The goal was to give students in failing public schools better options. This decision had a big impact on education by expanding school choice across the country and increasing debates over public funding for private education.