FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What landmark case established that equal access does not guarantee equal opportunity?

1. Roe v. Wade

2. Brown v. Board of Education

3. Loving v. Virginia

4. Plessy v. Ferguson

The correct answer is: Brown v. Board of Education

The choice of Brown v. Board of Education is significant because this landmark Supreme Court case addressed the issue of racial segregation in public schools. The court’s ruling in 1954 established that separate educational facilities were inherently unequal, thus violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This decision underscored that equal access to education, as mandated by earlier precedents like Plessy v. Ferguson, was insufficient when the quality of education was not equal. Brown v. Board emphasized that merely allowing students of different races to attend the same schools did not guarantee that they would receive the same quality of education or opportunities. This case paved the way for greater awareness and subsequent actions toward ensuring not just equal access but also equal opportunity in education and other public services.