Rural School Code Act

In the early decades of the twentieth century, Progressive reformers in Ohio enacted a number of laws to improve the state's educational system. One of these laws was known as the Rural School Code Act, passed in 1914. Under previous Ohio laws, townships were in control of local schools in rural areas. The Rural School Code Act placed school districts under the authority of county boards instead. This removed schools from local control and created a process by which standardization of education could be accomplished. The law also had a provision which set the minimum teacher's salary at forty dollars per month. In addition, the Rural School Code Act mandated that teachers have advanced professional training, setting the stage for the establishment of teacher training schools such as Kent State Normal College and Bowling Green State Normal College.