The paper considers the reasons for the educational system reform in the late 1950s, which began with the adoption of the law Strengthening the connection of school with life and further development of the national educational system in the USSR. The main propositions of the secondary school reform included labor polytechnic schools establishments where students were supposed to get profession along with the study of general education subjects. The period of study at a secondary school was supposed to be three years (grades 9, 10, 11). Schools and industrial enterprises where industrial training was to take place were not ready to organize industrial training. Despite the extensive campaign, the perception of the reform in society was controversial. The reform did not achieve its main goal - schools could not carry out pre-professional education of students.