K-12 education in America

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One of the most widely renowned systems of education all over the world is the K-12, which is a series of academic levels from kindergarten through 12th grade. Today, Victor Restis explores its roots in American history.

It was only in the late 18th century that public education became a catchphrase in the United States. Generally, people had to pay for education around that time, and it couldn’t be helped but become rather discriminatory.

In 1790, Pennsylvania was the first state to require free education for those who couldn’t afford it. Several years later, New York followed suit by way of legislation. By 1820, Massachusetts became the pioneer in tuition-free high school education known as Boston English.

K-12 was first formed in public systems in the early 19th century. Around the 1830s, Ohio took an interest in public school education. However, this time was also characterized by highly independent school systems across different states. Each state virtually had its own stroke.

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The Akron School Law of 1847 established the new norm. Named after Akron, Ohio, where the system was first conceived, the state passed a law to standardize the scheme across the country, which finally came to reality in 1849.

Under this law, education in America had to be organized in a specific way, wherein students were divided into separate grade levels based on achievement. For education to be free, they created a system wherein property taxes paid for education.

Victor Restis notes that around this time, the educational system already closely resembled how we know it today. The K-12 educational system has been adapted around the world, allowing many countries to benefit from a proven structure of learning that would eventually be depended on for citizens to be productive members of society.