National College of Education

In 1887, NLU's first president, Elizabeth Harrison Elizabeth Harrison introduced the concept of early childhood education to families across the Chicagoland area—as well as the importance of training the teachers who were entrusted with the care of our youngest children. The institution she established, the Chicago Kindergarten Training School, which was based on the writings of Pestalozzi, Rousseau and Froebel, is known today as the National College of Education.

The faculty and staff of the Department of Early Childhood Education are committed to continuing Harrison's legacy and to providing educational experiences that prepare professionals to support and improve the quality of programs and services for young children, their families, and the community in which they live. The department is also active in expanding the research and knowledge base of the early childhood field, improving the professional status of early childhood practitioners, increasing the public's awareness of important early childhood issues, and promoting exemplary early childhood practices.