Final answer:
Education was key to President Johnson's Great Society as a means to combat poverty and social inequality. Significant measures included the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Higher Education Act, which provided increased funding, resources, and low-interest loans for education.
Step-by-step explanation:
Education was an essential cornerstone in President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society program because it was seen as a vital tool for lifting families out of poverty and addressing social inequalities. With approximately one-fourth of American families living beneath the poverty line in the 1960s, Johnson, a former teacher, believed that access to education was a primary key in combating poverty. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Higher Education Act were significant legislative achievements under this program, aimed at increasing federal funding for education, providing low-interest loans for college tuition, supporting special education, and raising the quality of education for disadvantaged individuals.
These educational reforms, including funding for learning materials like textbooks and library resources for schools, scholarships for college students, and the creation of a corps of teachers to serve in impoverished areas, were intended to pave the way for a more educated and skilled workforce, ultimately enabling a more prosperous and equitable society.