Grown from the work of visionary educators and researchers, progressive education today centers on the belief that children learn best through experience, inquiry, and meaningful relationships. Rather than relying solely on rote memorization or standardized testing, progressive schools engage students in hands-on projects, integrated curriculum, self-assessment, and real-world problem-solving, all while closely attending to their social and emotional growth.

We owe inspiration to the early pioneers of the progressive education movement, to early childhood researchers, and to the modern champions of child-centered learning pedagogies.

John Dewey, whose work at the University of Chicago Laboratory School established “learning by doing” as a cornerstone of modern education.

Lucy Sprague Mitchell, founder of the Bank Street School in New York City, whose developmental-interaction approach emphasized real-world experiences.

Francis Wayland Parker, whose namesake school in Chicago pioneered democratic classrooms and integrated learning.

Caroline Pratt, founder of City & Country School in NYC, a visionary in play-based and child-directed learning.

Josephine Duveneck, founder of Peninsula School, the first progressive school in California, emphasized nature-based and community-driven learning. She helped pioneer inclusive, ethical education.

Tom Little, a national leader in progressive education and author of Loving Learning.  He co-founded the Progressive Education Network and headed Park Day School for many years. 

Gloria Ladson-Billings, whose groundbreaking work in culturally relevant pedagogy challenges schools to honor students' identities, lived experiences, and communities as essential components of meaningful learning.

Lev Vygotsky emphasized social interaction and cultural context in learning. His Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) and More Knowledgeable Others (MKO) are central to progressive teaching practices, encouraging collaborative learning and tailored support.

Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi, emphasized educating the whole child and believed in learning by observation and experience.

Jean Piaget, the Swiss developmental psychologist, laid the foundation for the constructivist approach to education in which students build on what they know by asking questions, investigating, interacting with others, and reflecting on these experiences.

Paulo Freire, a Brazilian educator and philosopher, proposed "problem-posing education" that encourages students to analyze the world around them, identify problems, and collaboratively develop solutions. Freire believed that teachers should approach education with humility, respecting students' knowledge and experiences.