ECE History

By Srlece101
  • Jan 1, 1524

    Martin Luther argues for support of education for all children.

    Martin Luther looks for public support in Germany for education of all children.

  • A nursery school is set up in Great Britain by Robert Owen

    Owen sets up a nursery school with the hope that early education would counteract a bad conditions in the home.

  • The first public Kindergarten in The United States is established

    Susan Blow opened the kindergarten in St. Louis, Missouri with the cooperation of the superintendent of schools there.

  • The Laboratory School at the University of Chicago opens

    The Laboratory School was started by John Dewey using the principle that learning should by child-centered and based on life experiences.

  • The first Montessori preschool opens in Rome

    Maria Montessori starts her preschool, A Children's House in Rome. Montessori's teaching was based on the idea that children learn best on their own in a carefully prepared environment.

  • The first Montessori preschool opens in The United States

    A Montessori school is started in New York City by Eva MeLin.

  • NAEYC is Born!

    The National Committee on Nursery Schools is started by Patty Smith Hill at Columbia Teachers College. Later it becomes the National Association for the Education of Young Children and provides guidance, support and education for early childhood educators.

  • Piaget's "The Origins of Intelligence in Children" is published in English

    Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development inspires move movement toward open ended child driven preschool.

  • Brown Vs. The Board of Education

    The supreme court rules that separate educational facilities, based on race, are inherently unequal. Public schools could no longer deny access bases on race.

  • Head Start is born

    The Head Start program starts child development centers using a federal allocation for preschool.

  • A study is released the documents the value of high-quality preschool

    The High/Scope Educational Foundation releases a study showing the value of high-quality education for disadvantaged children. In the following years the study is used by those advocating for expansion of Head Start and other early education programs.

  • The Literacy Decade starts!

    In 2003 a call to Action is made by the United Nations to fight illiteracy worldwide. This begins push by Early childhood professionals for literacy.

  • Montessori Education turns 100!

    100 years of Montessori education is celebrated around the world.

  • The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides tax dollars of Early Childhood Education

    The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act gives 2.1 billion to fund both Head Start and Early Head Start.

  • States look to fund Early Childhood programs for all children.

    In the wake of Great Recession budget cuts many states began looking at ways in which to fund Pre-K and kindergarten programs to make early education available to all 4 year olds.