Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA, 1965)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (20 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq.)

2) Why It Was Done
ESEA was a cornerstone of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “War on Poverty.” It aimed to close achievement gaps by providing federal funding to primary and secondary education, particularly for disadvantaged students.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
Education was historically left to states. The Constitution does not explicitly grant federal authority over schools. ESEA marked the first major federal role in K–12 education.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

1) Link to the Actual Opinion
Read the U.S. Reports opinion (PDF)

2) Summary of the Opinion
A group of students in Des Moines, Iowa, wore black armbands to school to protest the Vietnam War. School officials suspended them. The Supreme Court ruled that students do not “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.” The suspensions violated the First Amendment.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (1974)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (20 U.S.C. § 1232g)

2) Why It Was Done
FERPA was enacted to protect the privacy of student education records and to give parents (and later students themselves) rights to access and control disclosure of those records.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
Before FERPA, student record privacy was handled inconsistently at the state and local levels. FERPA established nationwide standards for privacy in federally funded schools.

New Jersey v. T.L.O. (1985)

1) Link to the Actual Opinion
Read the U.S. Reports opinion (PDF)

2) Summary of the Opinion
A high school student, known as T.L.O., was caught smoking in a school bathroom. A search of her purse revealed cigarettes, marijuana, and evidence of dealing. The student argued the search violated the Fourth Amendment. The Supreme Court held that school officials may search students with “reasonable suspicion”, a lower standard than the “probable cause” required for police.

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (2015)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (20 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq.)

2) Why It Was Done
ESSA replaced the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB, 2001) to reduce federal micromanagement of schools while maintaining accountability. It aimed to give states more flexibility in setting standards and measuring student success.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) established federal aid to schools. NCLB (2001) added strict federal testing/accountability requirements. ESSA rebalanced federal and state roles.