National Kindergarten Day Timeline

1982

Mississippi went to kindergarten

This state was the last to create a public kindergarten program. Before 1982, only 45 percent of Mississippi children who began first grade finished the twelfth grade.

1965

Head Start

President Johnson's "War on Poverty" led to the Head Start program — designed to help communities meet the needs of disadvantaged preschool children.

1892

Fröbel College

Followers of Fröbel established a college of teacher education in London to continue his traditions.

1840

Kindergarten born

Friedrich Fröbel coined the word kindergarten for the play and activity institute he had founded for young children.