Final answer:
The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 passed with bipartisan support, marking a significant shift in education policy by imposing federal standards on schools. It built upon federal commitments to education stemming from the 1960s, like the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the creation of the Department of Education in 1979.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 2001, a major piece of education legislation, titled No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, passed with bipartisan support. This act was a key policy achievement that fundamentally altered the federal-state relationship in education by imposing federal requirements on schools. Initially intended to close achievement gaps and support students regardless of background, over time, the NCLB became seen as unworkable, leading to calls for revision and the eventual creation of a new education law under the Obama administration which aimed to fully prepare students for college and careers.
The roots of federal involvement in education date back to the 1960s with the War on Poverty, which saw the enactment of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the establishment of the Head Start Program. President Lyndon Johnson's commitment to educational reform, as a means to combat poverty, led to increased federal funding for disadvantaged children and the creation of teacher corps to serve in impoverished areas.
The Department of Education was established in 1979, further solidifying the federal government's role in education. Over the years, this involvement has grown, with acts like ESEA being renewed, leading up to critical amendments passed under President George W. Bush's administration with the NCLB in 2002, encapsulating the United States' investment in what Johnson referred to as 'human capital'.