Final answer:
Congress combated discrimination in education primarily through the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. These legislative measures outlawed various forms of discrimination and mandated equal opportunities in education for all students, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or disability.
Step-by-step explanation:
Legislative Measures to Combat Discrimination in Education
To address and combat discrimination in education, the United States Congress enacted several legislative measures. Notably, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 played a pivotal role by outlawing discrimination in public accommodations, employment, and education based on race, color, national origin, religion, and sex. This significant legislation established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to investigate discrimination and enforce provisions against employment discrimination.
Later on, Congress passed the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibited discrimination against individuals with disabilities within federal employment or programs receiving federal funding. Subsequently, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 mandated public schools provide education to children with disabilities, tailored to each child's needs, aligning as closely as possible to the education received by non-disabled children.
Another crucial statute was Title IX of the United States Education Amendments of 1972, which banned sex-based discrimination in educational institutions receiving federal aid. It ensured equal opportunities in academic programs and activities, including athletics. Although Congress's efforts to include protections for gay and lesbian individuals in civil rights acts like the Equality Act of 1974 and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) failed to pass in subsequent years, these initial legislative measures laid the groundwork for a more inclusive educational environment.