The education reform movement is a broad-based effort to improve the quality of education in the United States. The goals of the education reform movement are to improve student achievement, close the achievement gap, and make sure all students have the opportunity to succeed.The education reform movement has its roots in the early 1800s, when Horace Mann advocated for public, free, and uniform education. Mann’s ideas were later expanded upon by John Dewey, who argued that education should be about more than just memorizing facts. Dewey believed that education should be about helping students learn how to think critically and solve problems.In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the education reform movement gained momentum as more and more Americans recognized the need for improved education. In 1892, the National Education Association (NEA) was founded. The NEA was a powerful lobbying force for education reform, and it helped to pass laws that established free public education and standardized testing.In the mid-1900s, the education reform movement shifted its focus to desegregation and equality. In 1954, the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision outlawed segregated schools, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made discrimination in education illegal. These landmark laws helped to level the playing field for all students, regardless of race or ethnicity.In the 21st century, the education reform movement continues to focus on improving the quality of education for all students. Today, education reformers are working to improve standards and accountability, close the achievement gap, and increase access to quality education.