Study Guide for Education Law and History

• Brown v. Board of Education


  Landmark Supreme Court case that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional, promoting desegregation of schools
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)


  Federal law that ensures students with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education tailored to their individual needs (FAPE-Free Appropriate Public Education)
• Title IX


  Federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education programs or activities that receive federal funding
• Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)


  Key provision of IDEA ensuring that students with disabilities receive an education tailored to their individual needs at no cost to their families
• Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)


  Federal law providing funding and guidelines for K-12 education programs to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged students
• No Child Left Behind (NCLB)


  Federal law that aimed to improve student achievement and accountability in schools through standardized testing and performance measures
• Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)


  Legal requirement under IDEA that students with disabilities should be educated in settings as close to general education classrooms as possible
• Civil Rights Act of 1964

  Prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, leading to efforts to desegregate schools
• "A Nation at Risk"


  Report highlighting concerns about the quality of American education and calling for reforms to improve student performance
• Charter schools


  Publicly funded schools that operate independently, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods
• School vouchers

  Government-funded scholarships that allow students to attend a private school of their choice
• Dame schools


  Early informal schools run by women in their homes, providing basic education to young children in colonial America
• McGuffey Readers


  Widely used textbooks in American schools, known for their moral lessons and emphasis on literacy(first non-religion text book)
• National Defense Education Act

  Federal law aimed at improving science, mathematics, and foreign language education in response to the Cold War
• The 10th Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states, impacting education by allowing states to have authority over education policies and regulations
• The 14th Amendment guarantees equal protection under the law, impacting education by prohibiting discrimination in schools based on race, gender, or other protected characteristics
• The McKinney-Vento Act ensures the rights of homeless students to receive a free and appropriate education and access to support services
• McCollum v. Board of Education was a landmark Supreme Court case that ruled against religious instruction in public schools, reinforcing the separation of church and state
• Lau v. Nichols was a Supreme Court case that established the rights of English language learners to receive appropriate language support in schools
• The Kalamazoo Case of 1874 was a legal battle that solidified the concept of free public education in the United States
• Zelman v. Simmons-Harris was a Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of school voucher programs
• Engle v. Vitale was a Supreme Court case that ruled against state-sponsored prayer in public schools, citing the separation of church and state
• Tinker v. Des Moines was a Supreme Court case that affirmed students' rights to free speech in schools
• Common schools were early public schools in the United States aimed at providing education to all children regardless of background or social class
• Franklin Academy was a prominent educational institution founded by Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia
• Normal Schools were teacher-training institutions that aimed to standardize and improve the quality of education in the 19th century
• In the 1600s, education focused on religious instruction, literacy, and preparing individuals for civic responsibilities
• The Old Deluder Satan Law was a colonial Massachusetts law that required towns to provide education to prevent ignorance and combat the influence of the devil
• Horace Mann was an advocate for public education and is often referred to as the "Father of American Education" for his efforts to improve and expand public schooling
• John Dewey was a prominent philosopher and educator known for his influence on progressive education theory, emphasizing hands-on learning and student-centered approaches
• Progressivism in education emphasizes learning by doing, student collaboration, and real-world problem-solving to prepare students for active citizenship
• Plessy v. Ferguson was a Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine
• Benjamin Franklin advocated for practical education, founding institutions like the American Philosophical Society and the Library Company of Philadelphia
• Thomas Jefferson promoted public education and founded the University of Virginia, emphasizing the importance of an educated citizenry
• The National Defense Education Act was a federal law aimed at improving science, mathematics, and foreign language education in response to the Cold War