The Timeline of the History of Literacy in America

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Printing Press

1440

The printing press was used to spread information quickly and accurately. Some people think this is the most important invention between writing itself and the computer.

Harvard College Established

1636

Harvard College was the first institution of higher education in the English colonies in what is now Cambridge, Massachusetts.

First Lending Libraries

1700

Lending libraries were started as a way to improve America's education. The updated lending libraries allowed books taken and read on the person's own time, with the understanding that it would come back when they were finished.

Braille's Code was created

1821

Louis Braille was a blind Frenchman who invented his code and an embossed dot system that represents the alphabet letters, numbers, punctuation, and whole words.

Webster's Dictionary

1828

Noah, Webster, the Father of American Christian education, wrote the first American dictionary and established a system of rules to govern spelling, grammar, and reading.

Department of Education

1867

The original department of education was created in 1867 to collect information on schools and teaching that would help the states establish effective school systems.

Creation of the Dewey Decimal System

1876

The Dewey Decimal system is a hierarchical system of organizing materials in a library. it is named after the creator, American librarian and educator, Melvil Dewey.

The Progressive Education Movement

1897

The Progressive Education Movement can be traced to John Locke and reached it's zenith with John Dewey whose idea of progressive education was "taking into account students are social beings."

First Digital Computer

1946

The first digital computer was called the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer. It was invented by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly.

Brown vs. Board of Education

1954

U.S. Supreme Court case in which the court ruled unanimously that racial segregation in public schools violated the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Dr. Suess released The Cat in the Hat

1957

Theodor Geisel, writing as Dr. Suess, created The Cat in the Hat in response to the May 24, 1954 Life Magazine article by John Henry titled Why do Students Bog Down on First R?

The First Act for American College Testing Program

1959

The American College Testing Program was founded by Ted Maccarrel and Everett Franklin Lindquist. They believed the testing was necessary for college placement and to provide an indicator of academic preparation.

Head Start Program

1965

The Head Start Program began as part of President Lyndon Johnson's great society campaign. It promotes healthy prenatal outcomes, healthy families and infant and toddler development beginning as young as newborns.

Title I of Elementary and Secondary Education Act Passed

1965

The Act was part of President Lyndon Johnson's war on poverty. It represented the first significant federal involvement in public education.

Title IX

1972

Title IX is one of the education amendments of 1972. It protects individuals from being discriminated against based on their sex.

Children's Literature Association Conference

1973

It is a non-profit organization whose members include scholars, critics, professors, students, librarians, teachers and institutions that are dedicated to the academic student of literature education.

American Language Program founded

1980

The American Language Program was original called "Boston Home Language." This is a private program for students ages 12-80 years old where the student stays in the home of their teacher for intensive English Language instruction.

No Child Left Behind

2001

An act congress declared that Title I reading being an aid program for disadvantage students. This act is based on setting standards for the teacher and students to follow.

Amazon Kindle

2007

Amazon.com first introduced the Kindle in 2007. The Kindle is an eBook reader that incorporates a wireless service to buy books, so you can read anywhere.

Race to the Top

2009

Schools who are leading the way in reform in the classrooms will be able to compete for grants to support reform and innovation in the classroom.