Early Childhood Education Timeline

  • Children's Kindergarten started in Germany by Friedrich Froebel

    Friedrich Forebel was a strong activist for infants to have a place where children meet other children. Forebel did not want other children to experience a sad childhood like his own so he created Germany's first Kindergarten for children to interact with each other and express themselves.
  • First public school kindergarten started in St. Louis.

    Susan Blow opened up the first public kindergarten. The kindergarten consisted of two assistants and forty-two students. This experiment became a huge success which led to every public school in St. Louis to have a kindergarten.
  • Maria Montesorri opens the Children's House in Rome.

    Maria Montesorri opened a school for children in Rome where her teaching method was used. Montesorri called her school "Casa dei bambini" which translates to Children's house. Once her teaching method became more noticed. she began to open more schools.
  • The first Kindercare center is opened.

    The first kindercare was opened in Montgomery, Alabama to help the high numbers of mothers who were entering the workforce. Kindercare still prides themselves in helping working parents to this day.
  • National Academy of Early Childhood Programs is established by NAEYC for voluntary accreditation of center based programs.

    NAEYC was created to help improve the quality of care and to provide children in preschools, kindergartens and children centers education.
  • Child Care and Development Grant is enacted.

    CCDG was established to support child care for low-income families who cannot access the AFDC welfare system.
  • T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship program enacted.

    The TEACH is a federal grant that gives students up to $4,000 per year if they agree to teach for four year at an elementary/secondary school or educational service agency that serves low-income families.
  • The Stand for Children Campaign begins, initiated by the Children's Defense Fund.

    The CDF assembled three thousand organizations, including NAACP, to take part of the largest civil rights rally for children.
  • Bill Clinton reestablishes the White House Conference on Children.

    President Clinton and the First Lady hosted The White House Conference on Early Childhood Development and learning. Within this conference new research on children brain development is discussed. This conference also discus the importance of getting young children a healthy head start in education.
  • The No Child Left Behind Act bill is passed.

    2001 - The No Child Left Behind Act bill is passed.
    The No Child Left Behind Act ensured that all student, no matter their status, race, or disability, would get a proper education. No student would also be lagging behind in school. This Act ensured that each student was receiving the best education possible.
  • President Obama called on Congress to expand access to high-quality preschool to every child in America, called The Preschool for All initiative.

    The Preschool for All initiative made sure that low income families get access to preschools. The U.S. Department will be given extra funds to schools to support preschools.