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Plessy v. Ferguson
In the case of Plessy v. Ferguson, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld "separate but equal." This was a landmark case as it legalized racial segregation in public facilities. The Supreme court declared that the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause was not violated, as it did not require social or political equality. The court claimed that the Fourteenth Amendment only guarantees equal protection under the law. -
Brown v. Board of Education
In this pivotal case, the Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. This was a landmark case as it marked the beginning of the end of legalized segregation in U.S. schools. The Supreme Court's ruling directly overturned the "separate but equal" principle that was established in the Plessy v. Ferguson case. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark legislation, prohibiting discrimination against individuals based on race, color, national origin, sex, or religion, and puts an end to segregation in public areas. It also establishes a foundation for desegregation of public schools and guarantees equal access to education for all students. The Civic Rights Act of 1964 set a precedent for further civil rights advancements. -
Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia
In the case of Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that children with disabilities cannot be denied access to public education. This was a landmark case as the Supreme Court declared that the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause was violated and mandated public schools to offer educational services to children with disabilities and ensure they were not excluded due to their disabilities. -
Lau v. Nichols
In the case of Lau v. Nichols, the U.S. Supreme Court addressed language discrimination in public education. This was a landmark case as it ruled that denying non-English speaking students' meaningful access to public education was discriminatory. Although the school district argued that they were providing equal treatment to the Chinese American students, the Court declared that the students were not receiving a meaningful education as they did not understand English. -
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act
The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act aimed to improve student performance and reduce achievement gaps by increasing school accountability. It required states to administer standardized tests in reading and math to assess student progress. NCLB focused on ensuring equal opportunities for all students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.