Final answer:
The Gilmer-Aikin Laws of 1949 revolutionized public education in Texas by establishing the Texas Education Agency and providing a framework for state support and standardization of public schools. These laws shifted educational control from local to state level, ensuring equalized educational opportunities and setting policies for funding, teacher salaries, and school governance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Public education in Texas went through a significant change in 1949 with the passage of the Gilmer-Aikin Laws. Before then, education was mainly controlled by local entities, but these laws marked a shift towards more centralized state control over funding, teacher salaries, and school policy. The legislation established the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the body responsible for overseeing public education in the state, and set the foundation for the modern public school system in Texas.
The Gilmer-Aikin Laws had three main parts: one established a minimum foundation program to equalize educational opportunities, another created the TEA, and the third part addressed teacher certification requirements, minimum salaries, and school tax assessments. This legislative action was a watershed moment in Texas educational history, ensuring that public education received adequate state-level support and resources.