1848

Discovery of gold kicks off California Gold Rush.

1850

United States admits California as the 31st state.

1852

California legislature creates state board of education.

1866

Legislature requires school attendance for children ages 8-14.

1921

School districts become responsible for their own budgets and taxes.

1946

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit holds that the segregation of Mexican and Mexican-American students into separate “Mexican schools” is unconstitutional.

1978

Proposition 13 caps local property taxes, placing a greater burden on the state to finance public schools.

1992

Fuzzy math reform in California is promoted by the “Mathematics Framework for California Public Schools,” the state education department’s advisory document.

1998

The state board of ed approves a new “Mathematics Framework,” focusing on rigorous math.

2010

Gov. Schwarzenegger and the state sued over the system for financing public education.