Literacy Timeline

By madisonsides
  • 1436

    Printing Press

    In 1436, Johannes Gutenburg invented the printing press. Prior to the printing press, books and other materials used for literacy education were only for the elite since they were so hard to make. However, when the printing press was invented, books became way more common, so literacy was available to everyone.

  • Jeanne Chall

    In 1921, Jeanne Chall was born. Chall was a very important theorist in literacy education who believed that direct and systematic instruction in reading is very important. Chall's theory was based around stages that ranged from stage 0 up to stage 5.

  • Lucy Calkins

    In 1951, Lucy Calkins was born. Calkins was a very important literacy theorist who believed that students learn from personal experience, so she encouraged teachers to build off of students experiences to help them learn new skills.

  • National Literacy Act of 1991

    The National Literacy Act of 1991 was passed in order to help with adult literacy. It helped to enhance the literacy skills of adults, ensure all adults had the basic skills needed for work, and strengthen adult literacy programs. It also amended the Elementary and Secondary Act of 1965 to help teachers and counselors be able to better identify students in early grades who may be at risk of adult illiteracy.

  • Achieve3000

    In 2000, Achieve3000 was founded. Achieve3000 is an online literacy tool that can be used for a large range of students. It has many features that meets students where they are. This was a major development in literacy education along with many other similar programs that help enhance literacy education through the emergence of technology in schools.

  • Internet in Schools

    By the year 2002, all public schools reported to have internet in their school. This was a major development for education as a whole but also literacy education as it allowed for more programs for literacy education, as well as more ways to teach kids these important skills to promote the greatest literacy growth in students.

  • Literacy-Based Promotion Act

    In 2013, the state of Mississippi passed the Literacy-Based Promotion Act. The goal of the act was to improve the literacy skills of students starting with kindergarten through third grade. The act was implemented to ensure a comprehensive approach to teaching literacy.

  • South Carolina Read to Succeed Act

    In 2014, South Carolina passed the Read to Succeed Act. This act was passed to support literacy development in children starting with pre-kindergarten through the twelfth grade. It implemented a third grade retention plan that required students be held back in third grade if they do not show proficiency in literacy skills on their SC READY test.