ACEI: A Brief Look at Our History

Established in 1892 as the International Kindergarten Union, the Association for Childhood Education International is the oldest professional association of its type in the United States.

On July 15, 1892, educators concerned with the professional preparation of kindergarten teachers gathered at the Baptist Church in Saratoga Springs, New York, to form the International Kindergarten Union (IKU). The educators sought to consolidate the gains made in early childhood education since the pioneering work of Friedrich Froebel, father of the kindergarten movement, in Germany during the 1820's and 1830's. They also planned collective action to promote kindergarten education at a time when traditional philanthropic support was dwindling and the public education establishment still resisted the concept of the kindergarten. The stated aims of the IKU were "to gather and disseminate knowledge of the kindergarten movement throughout the world, to bring into active cooperation all kindergarten interests, to promote the establishment of kindergartens, and to elevate the standard of professional training" for kindergarten teachers. The IKU acted to coordinate the efforts of local, regional, and national associations and to "collect, collate, and disseminate the valuable knowledge already attained, and to inspire greater and more intelligent efforts in the future."

During the first three decades of the twentieth century, public school systems gradually absorbed kindergarten education. As this happened, the methods and objectives of kindergarten and primary education developed an increasing influence upon one another. Reflecting this growing relationship, the National Council of Primary Education (established 1916) adopted a new constitution on February 24, 1931, that joined it with the International Kindergarten Union under the name Association for Childhood Education (ACE). As a preliminary to that action, the Union had adopted the new constitution and name the previous year. The aim of unification was to "bring greatly enlarged and more forceful influence to bear in promoting progressive nursery school, kindergarten, and primary worth throughout the country."

The ACE added "International" to its name at the Cincinnati meeting of 1946 as an indication of the Association's concern for children throughout the world, and particularly for the challenge of education reconstruction in war zones.

Activities of ACEI following the war centered on these challenges, with the Association sending play and curriculum materials, toys, and books for both teachers and children to liberated and occupied areas. ACEI also sponsored teachers from Norway, Germany, and Korea for study tours in the United States.

The Association was an early advocate of civil rights. In 1949, it denied requests from three state associations that each of those states have separate associations for blacks and whites with separate memberships in ACEI. In 1950, ACEI revised its Guide for Groups Wishing to Extend Invitations to ACEI to state that such an invitation must include an assurance that African American members would have equal access to hotels, restaurants, and public transportation.

Currently, the Association for Childhood Education International's headquarters is located in Olney, Maryland, and maintains a staff of fourteen. There are about 11,000 active members, with thirty-one state branches and 103 local branches. In 1999, ACEI restated its mission to read: "to promote and support in the global community the optimal education and development of children, from infancy through middle childhood, and to influence the professional growth of educators, and the efforts of others who are committed to the needs of children in a changing society." Significant Events in ACEI's Past:

1892 -- ACEI is founded as the International Kindergarten Union (IKU) in Saratoga Springs, New York.
1893 -- The IKU presents a model kindergarten at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
1918 -- Kindergarten Units are organized after World War I to help refugee children in France.
1924 -- The first issue of Childhood Education is published. Article subjects include "The Significance of the Nursery School" and "Programs of Standard and Informal Testing for the Primary Grades."
1931 -- The IKU joins with the National Council of Primary Education to become the Association for Childhood Education (ACE).
1930's -- ACE is hired by the Works Progress Administration to publish materials for use by nursery school teachers.
1946 -- As the association becomes more involved with world affairs; ACE changes its name to Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI).
1946 -- ACEI sends hundreds of toys to children in Austria, Yugoslavia, Greece, and Italy. Over the next few years ACEI sponsors teachers from Norway and Germany to be brought to the United States for training.
1949 -- Three states request that ACEI recognize segregated state branches. The request is denied.
1950 -- A guarantee of equal access to hotels and all public transportation and restaurants for African American members is included in the guidelines for cities wishing to host conferences.
1960 -- The ACEI center opens in Washington, DC. The center features a resource area with displays of artwork, toys, and the latest in educational materials.
1964 -- Congress passes the Economic Opportunity Act. ACEI responds by developing training kits for Project Head Start training centers.
1971 -- ACEI expands its scope of service to include infancy to early adolescence.
1980 -- ACEI is granted a seat on the Non-Governmental Organization Committee of UNICEF.
1983 -- Marks the inception of the first overseas branch (in the Philippine Islands).
1986 -- The first issue of The Journal of Research in Childhood Education is published. Educational research from infancy to adolescence provides a new outlet for scholars in education.
1989 -- ACEI develops three separate professional divisions: infancy; early childhood; and later childhood/early adolescence, each with its own newsletter.
1990 -- The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations awards ACEI consultative status.
1990 -- ACEI is designated as the organization to conduct portfolio reviews for colleges and universities applying for elementary education program accreditation by NCATE.
1992 -- ACEI celebrates its centennial as the oldest association of its type in the United States.
The 1990's also mark the development of two new professional newsletters. One focuses on children in elementary school, and the other focuses on teacher education.
In 1996 ACEI's web site went online at www.acei.org.
In 2003 ACEI resoponded to member requests by adding another newsletter, Focus on Inclusive Education to its periodical list.
In 2003 (Volume 18) The Journal of Research in Childhood Education became a quarterly publication.
ACEI continues its work locally and internationally. As of 2003, ACEI has members in over forty countries, each working toward the same goal: the education of our future.

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