FTCE Exceptional Student Education (ESE) K-12 Practice Test

Which landmark Supreme Court case addressed the issue of "separate but equal" educational facilities?

1. Wyatt v. Stickney

2. Diana v. The State Board of Education

3. Brown v. Board of Education

4. Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia

The correct answer is: Brown v. Board of Education

The landmark Supreme Court case that addressed the issue of "separate but equal" educational facilities is Brown v. Board of Education. This 1954 decision fundamentally challenged the legality of racial segregation in public schools, establishing that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal and therefore unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This case overturned the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson, which upheld the "separate but equal" doctrine and allowed segregation in various public facilities, including schools. In Brown v. Board of Education, the Court determined that segregation in education created a sense of inferiority among African American children that undermined their educational opportunities. This ruling was crucial in the civil rights movement and led to the desegregation of public schools across the United States, marking a significant step toward equality in education. The decision emphasized that educational facilities must be integrated to provide equal opportunities for all students, regardless of race.