In what ways did public education improve during the progressive era?

Progressives believed that in order for people to become truly free and understand concepts like equality and democracy that they need to be educated and go to schools. This is why they tried to open as many as possible and help even the traditionally disenfranchises groups join the education system, even if in segregated schools. They also knew that the rapidly developing industry and economy needed a qualified workforce so they knew that the schools were the answer to that.