American Education: A History, Seventh Edition is a comprehensive, highly regarded history of American education from precolonial times to the present.

Chronologically organized, the new edition provides an objective overview of each major period in the development of American education, setting the discussion against the broader background of national and world events. In addition to its in-depth exploration of Native American traditions (including education) prior to colonization, it also offers strong, ongoing coverage of minorities and women. Features for the seventh edition include:

• Every chapter extensively revised to incorporate the most recent historical scholarship, to increase readability, and to make the content relevant for today’s educators.
• Chapter overviews and end-of-chapter reflection questions to aid comprehension and discussion;
• Updated and expanded coverage of Native American education, the role of women progressives in schools, rural schooling, public education and minority populations, and much more;
• Brand new topics, such as education policy under Trump and Biden, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on schools, student mental health, critical race theory, culturally responsive education, and textbook censorship.

This much-anticipated seventh edition is essential reading for undergraduate and graduate History of Education courses.

Wayne J. Urban is Professor of Education Emeritus at the University of Alabama, USA.

Milton Gaither is an independent scholar and Managing Editor of the History of Education Quarterly.