| 1802 |
DC municipal government established by Congress |
| before 1804 |
Education in the area was provided by secular and religious private schools, some of which occasionally admitted black children |
| 1804 |
City Council passes the first public education act, providing for free education for poor white children and allowing wealthier children to attend for a fee; a Board of Trustees (of 13 appointed members) is established |
| 1805 |
Board of Trustees meets for the first time, electing then-President Thomas Jefferson its president; governance was generally directed by the Board and Mayor jointly; the number and composition of the Board changed periodically over the years |
| 1812-28 |
Schools were supported by lotteries and occasional allocations from Congress |
| 1821-44 |
Schools used the Lancastrian System of instruction, in which older or advanced students instructed younger students; the system was economical but emphasized the distinctions between wealthier and poorer students |
| 1831-45 |
A Board of Trustees forbids children of well-to-do parents from attending the public schools; the public schools were generally viewed as charity schools |
| 1845 |
Mayor Seaton reorganizes the system thoroughly, abolishing all fees, providing funding from property taxes (1858), and establishing a goal of education for all (white) children in the city; education was by the New England System; new two-room schoolhouses were built in each of the four school districts of the city |
| 1862 |
Public education for black children established; first school buildings (one-room) constructed in the County of Washington, all for colored students |
| 1864 |
The opening of the Wallach School (later demolished) inaugurates a period of larger, brick buildings (Franklin, Sumner) housing many grades together |
| 1865-80 |
Instruction for blind children (in Maryland schools), deaf (in city schools), and feeble-minded (in Pennsylvania schools) begun |
| 1869 |
First Superintendent of Public Schools (Zalmon Richards) appointed |
| 1873 |
The first normal school (Franklin) for academic and teacher-training, and first vocational schools opened |
| 1874 |
Administration divided between two Superintendents, one for instruction of white and one for black students; four existing Boards of Education (Washington City, Washington County, Georgetown, colored education) consolidated into one Board |
| 1876 |
The first high school (for girls only) opens (for boys, 1877); high schools and normal schools for colored students followed soon afterward |
| 1882 |
Over one quarter of schools rooms in the system are in rented buildings; introduction of Cadet Training, the predecessor of JROTC |
| 1883 |
The first high school (for girls only) opens (for boys, 1877); high schools and normal schools for colored students followed soon afterward |
| 1884 |
The first school library established |
| 1889 |
Introduction of physical education |
| 1895 |
Textbooks for elementary students are provided free of charge |
| 1897 |
The first Congress of Mothers leads to the present-day PTA and HSA organiztions |
| 1898 |
Kindergarten introduced into the system |
| 1900 |
Board of Trustees replaced with a Board of Education; the two Superintendents replaced with one |
| 1902 |
Night school established, teaching vocational skills |
| 1903 |
Introduction of medical facilities in schools |
| 1906 |
The citys first compulsory school attendance law passed |
| 1908 |
After an extensive review, the system begins a period of intensive building and renovation (eg, Central/Cardozo, Eastern) |
| 1916 |
Summer school inaugurated |
| 1919 |
The first Americanization School established for immigrants |
| 1920 |
First retirement act for teachers passed |
| 1924 |
The Teacher Salary Act ties salaries to those of the federal government, broadly reorganized pay structures and school administration |
| 1926 |
Another period of extensive school building begins (eg, Janney, McKinley) |
| 1930 |
Text books for junior and high school students are provided free of charge |
| 1939 |
A new period of school building commences (Beers, Jefferson) |
| 1942 |
The citys newly-established Board of Recreation plans playgrounds and recreation centers near city schools |
| 1954 |
Bolling v. Sharpe decision of the U.S. Supreme Court ends racial segregation in DC (the case related to Sousa JHS) |
| 1959 |
Board of Education approves the track system, grouping students by achievement level |
| 1967 |
Track system terminated as a result of court order, the court finding that it constituted a form of racial discrimination |
| 1968 |
The Board of Education becomes an elected body |
| 1967 |
A new period of school construction begins (Brookland, Dunbar) |
| 2000 |
The system deaccessions many surplus buildings and begins a long-term project to renovate the remaining (Noyse, Thompson) |
