Timeline of laws and events that have happened since Horace Mann's Revolutionary ideas.
"1865-1900 The establishment of school districts, taxation for government schools, curriculum and structure, and children’s school attendance (O 160). Supreme Court rules that the state’s 100-year practice of allowing public funds to pay tuition at religious schools now violates the state’s Constitution (H 168). Congress enacts the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, providing federal funds for local public schools (O 181). The U.S. Department of Education is elevated to Cabinet level status. Children of certain ages compelled to attend school. (For a brief period in some states, it was illegal for children to attend non-government schools)
1916 - The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is founded. So is the American Educational Research Association (AERA)
1982 -1992- 32 states change their compulsory attendance laws to specifically permit home schooling (C 120-121). By the mid-1990s, all states permit homeschooling. The National Commission on Excellence in Education releases its report, “A Nation at Risk,” declaring America’s “educational institutions seem to have lost sight of the basic purposes of schooling, and of the high expectations and disciplined effort needed to attain them,” and warning of a “rising tide of mediocrity that threatens our very future as a Nation and a people.” Iowa enacts tax credits for educational expenses Milwaukee [Wisconsin] Parental Choice Program is signed into law, giving low-income parents a publicly-funded voucher to send their children to a private non-sectarian school of choice (H 182). First charter school is established in St. Paul, Minnesota. Cleveland [Ohio] Pilot Project Scholarship Program is signed into law, giving students a voucher to attend the public, private, or religious school of choice.
2001- The American Federal of Teachers challenges the program on constitutional grounds. An appeal has been filed before the U.S. Supreme Court, which will decide in September or October 2001 whether to review the case. Arizona enacts state income tax credits for scholarship contributions. Legal challenge filed by Arizona Education Association.
*Minnesota enacts a refundable tax credit for education expenses, including tuition, of up to $1,625 for elementary school and $2,500 for junior and senior high school. Iowa increases its state tax credit for tuition expenses from $100 to $250 per year.
*Wisconsin Supreme Court declares the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program does not violate the state’s Constitution (6/10/98). The U.S. Supreme Court denies appeal, allows ruling to stand. Florida enacts “Opportunity Scholarships” (vouchers) to allow children in habitually failing public schools to receive a voucher to attend a private or religious school (or better performing public school) of choice. Constitutional challenges were filed by the ACLU, NEA, People for the American Way, NAACP and others.
*Arizona Supreme Court rules Arizona tax credits are constitutional and raises legal concerns challenges the intent of the Blaine Amendment in the state Constitution (Jan 1999). U.S. Supreme Court denies appeal, allows ruling to stand (10/4/99). Illinois enacts a state income tax credit for education expenses, including tuition, book fees, and lab fees, incurred on behalf of K-12 students in Illinois public or private schools. Two constitutional challenges are filed: one by the Illinois Federation of Teachers, and a second by the Illinois Education Association, People for the American Way, and others. Pennsylvania enacts a state corporate educational tax credit for private scholarship contributions.
*Florida enacts the McKay Scholarship Program for students with disabilities and Scholarship Tax Credits. Florida Supreme Court lets stand a Court of Appeals decision that “Opportunity Scholarships” are constitutional (4/24/01). Illinois Supreme Court lets stand a lower court ruling that Illinois state tuition tax credits are constitutional (6/29/01).Marked by increased parental authority and options
2002- U.S. Supreme Court rules vouchers do not offend the Establishment Clause when, as in Cleveland’s voucher program, they are enacted for a ‘valid secular purpose’ and the program is one of ‘true private choice’ (Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, 6/28/02).
*No Child Left Behind Act is signed into law to remedy a crisis in education and give children in low-performing public schools options to choose better public schools. Of the 45 million high school seniors, according to US Secretary of Education Rod Paige, an estimated “10 million could not read at even a basic level; more than 25 million did not know even the basics of U.S. History; and of students in all high school levels, more than 20 million could not do even basic math” (H vii).
*Maryland joined 39 other states and the District of Columbia in permitting charter schools. States with the most charter schools are: Arizona (465), California (427), Florida (227), Texas (221), and Michigan (196).
*Home-schoolers establish their own National Honor Society, Eta Sigma Alpha, with more than 20 chapters nationwide. As many as 2 million children in grades K-12 are homeschooled each year. African-American home- schooling families increased ten-fold from 1999 to 2002.
2005- Utah enacts scholarship program for students with disabilities 2006 Florida Supreme Court strikes down the Opportunity Scholarship Program, but leaves other school choice programs in place. Ohio enacts a ‘failing school’ voucher program. Rhode Island enacts a corporate scholarship tax credit program. Iowa enacts a scholarship tax credit for donors.
*Georgia enacts a voucher program for disabled children. 2007 Utah legislature enacts comprehensive K-12 school choice for all children in October; overturned in November by voter referendum. Pennsylvania expands corporate tax credit fund to $75 million per year.
2008- Georgia enacts comprehensive K-12 program with no family income limitations. Louisiana enacts 2 programs: a low-income K-3 failing school voucher; and a personal tax deduction for parents for out-of-pocket tuition, books, etc., costs. Arizona and Florida lose school choice programs in court rulings. AZ court threw out 2 voucher programs (foster and disabled child); FL court ruled the state’s voter referendum approving choice is unconstitutional.
2009- Washington DC’s Opportunity Scholarship defunded by Democratic-controlled U.S. Congress. Obama Administration sends mixed signals: it won’t abandon current scholarship children, but won’t renew in 2010."
1916 - The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is founded. So is the American Educational Research Association (AERA)
1982 -1992- 32 states change their compulsory attendance laws to specifically permit home schooling (C 120-121). By the mid-1990s, all states permit homeschooling. The National Commission on Excellence in Education releases its report, “A Nation at Risk,” declaring America’s “educational institutions seem to have lost sight of the basic purposes of schooling, and of the high expectations and disciplined effort needed to attain them,” and warning of a “rising tide of mediocrity that threatens our very future as a Nation and a people.” Iowa enacts tax credits for educational expenses Milwaukee [Wisconsin] Parental Choice Program is signed into law, giving low-income parents a publicly-funded voucher to send their children to a private non-sectarian school of choice (H 182). First charter school is established in St. Paul, Minnesota. Cleveland [Ohio] Pilot Project Scholarship Program is signed into law, giving students a voucher to attend the public, private, or religious school of choice.
2001- The American Federal of Teachers challenges the program on constitutional grounds. An appeal has been filed before the U.S. Supreme Court, which will decide in September or October 2001 whether to review the case. Arizona enacts state income tax credits for scholarship contributions. Legal challenge filed by Arizona Education Association.
*Minnesota enacts a refundable tax credit for education expenses, including tuition, of up to $1,625 for elementary school and $2,500 for junior and senior high school. Iowa increases its state tax credit for tuition expenses from $100 to $250 per year.
*Wisconsin Supreme Court declares the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program does not violate the state’s Constitution (6/10/98). The U.S. Supreme Court denies appeal, allows ruling to stand. Florida enacts “Opportunity Scholarships” (vouchers) to allow children in habitually failing public schools to receive a voucher to attend a private or religious school (or better performing public school) of choice. Constitutional challenges were filed by the ACLU, NEA, People for the American Way, NAACP and others.
*Arizona Supreme Court rules Arizona tax credits are constitutional and raises legal concerns challenges the intent of the Blaine Amendment in the state Constitution (Jan 1999). U.S. Supreme Court denies appeal, allows ruling to stand (10/4/99). Illinois enacts a state income tax credit for education expenses, including tuition, book fees, and lab fees, incurred on behalf of K-12 students in Illinois public or private schools. Two constitutional challenges are filed: one by the Illinois Federation of Teachers, and a second by the Illinois Education Association, People for the American Way, and others. Pennsylvania enacts a state corporate educational tax credit for private scholarship contributions.
*Florida enacts the McKay Scholarship Program for students with disabilities and Scholarship Tax Credits. Florida Supreme Court lets stand a Court of Appeals decision that “Opportunity Scholarships” are constitutional (4/24/01). Illinois Supreme Court lets stand a lower court ruling that Illinois state tuition tax credits are constitutional (6/29/01).Marked by increased parental authority and options
2002- U.S. Supreme Court rules vouchers do not offend the Establishment Clause when, as in Cleveland’s voucher program, they are enacted for a ‘valid secular purpose’ and the program is one of ‘true private choice’ (Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, 6/28/02).
*No Child Left Behind Act is signed into law to remedy a crisis in education and give children in low-performing public schools options to choose better public schools. Of the 45 million high school seniors, according to US Secretary of Education Rod Paige, an estimated “10 million could not read at even a basic level; more than 25 million did not know even the basics of U.S. History; and of students in all high school levels, more than 20 million could not do even basic math” (H vii).
*Maryland joined 39 other states and the District of Columbia in permitting charter schools. States with the most charter schools are: Arizona (465), California (427), Florida (227), Texas (221), and Michigan (196).
*Home-schoolers establish their own National Honor Society, Eta Sigma Alpha, with more than 20 chapters nationwide. As many as 2 million children in grades K-12 are homeschooled each year. African-American home- schooling families increased ten-fold from 1999 to 2002.
2005- Utah enacts scholarship program for students with disabilities 2006 Florida Supreme Court strikes down the Opportunity Scholarship Program, but leaves other school choice programs in place. Ohio enacts a ‘failing school’ voucher program. Rhode Island enacts a corporate scholarship tax credit program. Iowa enacts a scholarship tax credit for donors.
*Georgia enacts a voucher program for disabled children. 2007 Utah legislature enacts comprehensive K-12 school choice for all children in October; overturned in November by voter referendum. Pennsylvania expands corporate tax credit fund to $75 million per year.
2008- Georgia enacts comprehensive K-12 program with no family income limitations. Louisiana enacts 2 programs: a low-income K-3 failing school voucher; and a personal tax deduction for parents for out-of-pocket tuition, books, etc., costs. Arizona and Florida lose school choice programs in court rulings. AZ court threw out 2 voucher programs (foster and disabled child); FL court ruled the state’s voter referendum approving choice is unconstitutional.
2009- Washington DC’s Opportunity Scholarship defunded by Democratic-controlled U.S. Congress. Obama Administration sends mixed signals: it won’t abandon current scholarship children, but won’t renew in 2010."