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HistoricalOverview: Early Childhood Education
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John Amos Comenius
Known as the Father of Modern Education and was the first to recognize that the play of childhood was learning. He was the innovator who first introduced pictorial textbooks, written in native language instead of Latin. -
Jean-Jacques Roussueau
A Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer of the 18th century who stated that a child's mode of thinking is different than an adult. The difference is that they learn through hands-on experience. -
Johann Pestalozzi
A Swiss pedagogue and educational reformer who established what is considered to be the first school to teach preschool age children. Pestalozzi decided to open another school in Burgdorf, the "Educational Institute for the Children of the Middle Classes", in October 1800 in the Burgdorf Castle -
Maria Montesorri
An Italian physician and educator best known for the philosophy of education that bears her name, and her writing on scientific pedagogy. The name Casa dei Bambini, or Children's House, was suggested to Montessori, and the first Casa opened on January 6, 1907, enrolling 50 or 60 children between the ages of two or three and six or seven. -
Head Start
A group of sociologists, psychologists, and pediatricians began discussions of a design that intended to assist children overcome setbacks or obstacles caused by poverty. The name of this project was tossed around with “Kiddie Corps” and Baby Corps” surfacing (some hoped the word “corps” would entail political activism), however, the name Head Start was chosen by academics who understood the achievement gap and that middle class students get ahead of their lower class peers. -
Child Care and Development Block Grant
Also called the Child Care and Development Fund, is the primary source of United States federal funding for child care subsidies for low-income working families and funds to improve child care quality. Child care assistance helps families succeed financially. When families receive child care assistance they are more likely to be employed and to have higher earnings. -
No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
A United States Act of Congress that is a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which included Title I, the government's flagship aid program for disadvantaged students. NCLB supports standards-based education reform based on the premise that setting high standards and establishing measurable goals can improve individual outcomes in education. -
The Preschool for All initiative
President Obama called on Congress to expand access to high-quality preschool to every child in America The goal is to provide high-quality early learning opportunities to all children in America so that they enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school and in life. In conjunction with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Education will work to significantly expand and improve services for young children and their families.
