1906

January

Pi Kappa Mu, Bergstrom Chapter, organized at Indiana University.

1908

May

Phi Delta Kappa, Alpha Chapter, organized at Columbia University.

1909

February

Nu Rho Beta organized at University of Missouri.

1910

March

Amalgamation Conference at Indianapolis, IN.

Membership limited to graduate students or undergraduates in the senior year or last half of junior year with associate membership for faculty members.

1911

March

Phi Delta Kappa chartered at Indianapolis, IN, and incorporated in the state of Indiana.

1912

November

Forerunner of field chapters emerged with formation of Stanford Alumni Association.

1914

February

Alumni charters granted to petitioning group of seven or more with non-voting representation at council meetings.

1915

National Newsletter of PDK, edited by Abel J. McAllister.

1916

July

National magazine designated the Phi Delta Kappan.

1920

June

Created five districts headed by district deputies.

National dues established at $1 per year.

1923

February

Kappan became a bimonthly with an advisory board.

Executive Secretary and Editor authorized for PDK,
Paul M. Cook (December 1927 - July 15, 1956).

Life membership defined.

1929

December

Converted district deputies into district representatives.

1933

December

Gave alumni chapters same representation at council as campus chapters.

1937

December

Took over publication of Educational Abstracts.

Decided to publish a dictionary of educational terms.

1938

April

Established national office at Homewood, IL.

District Conferences started.

1942

"White" clause eliminated from constitution.

State coordinators defined.

1945

First Dictionary of Education published.

1946

Officer handbooks started.

Council authorized formation of chapters outside of the United States.

1947

December

Added territories outside the U.S., including all of Canada, to existing districts.

Defined emeritus membership.

1948

February

Defined groups carrying out projects as "commissions" and those carrying out fraternity business as "committees."

Encouraged organization of officer training schools.

1949

December

Authorized funds for district projects.

1951

August

Executive committee redesignated the board of directors.

December

Created a committee to study permanent housing of the
national headquarters.

Authorized a major study of the structure of the fraternity.

1953

December

Authorized publication for annual Doctoral Studies in Education.

Authorized dual membership.

Authorized board to acquire a site and construct a headquarters building.

1954

February

Board selected Bloomington, IN, as site of headquarters building.

1955

August

Board approved petition leading to formation of the first international chapter at the University of Toronto.

November

International headquarters occupied in Bloomington, IN.

1956

July

Stanley M. Elam appointed Editor of Phi Delta Kappan
(July 1, 1956 - December 31, 1980).

July

Maynard Bemis appointed Executive Secretary
(July 15, 1956 - July 31, 1970).

August

District representatives started meeting with board, but non-voting.

1957

December

Approved two-year experiment in the initiation of
members by field chapters.

Provided for coordinators to attend council meetings
without right to vote.

1961

August

Approved professional staff position of Director of Special Services.

November

Co-sponsored first PDK Comparative Education Seminar to
Europe and USSR.

December

Coordinators given right to vote in council.

1962

February

Established a Research Advisory Committee.

 April

Started national billing for dues.

1963

August

Increased number of issues of Kappan to 10 per year.

December

Approved international associate and courtesy memberships with dues waivers.

Approved a study of fraternity structure to be directed by Edgar L. Morphet.

1964

February

Created a Past President's Advisory Committee.

1965

August

Approved plans for addition to headquarters building.

December

Approved automatic transfer of membership.

Dropped the Greek letter chapter designation.

Funded a research department for headquarters.

1966

July

William J. Gephart appointed first Director of Research Services
at headquarters (July 1, 1966 - June 30, 1980).

October

PDK Educational Foundation created by George H. Reavis.

1969

December

Created an Advisory Panel on Commissions.

Added the seven district representatives to the board of directors.

Approved new election procedures, including nomination for vice presidents at district conferences, publication of qualifications in NN&Q, and election at council.

1971

September

Lowell C. Rose appointed Executive Secretary
(September 1, 1971 - November 30, 1995).

December

Authorized a major addition to the headquarters building.

Changed the fiscal year to July 1 through June 30.

Authorized new chapter funds to use for expenses of delegates to its first district conference and/or council.

Created a senior membership category.

1972

January

First foundation monograph published.

Designated staff of PDK as the staff for the foundation.

August

Asked each chapter to designate a foundation representative.

Terminated Research Studies in Education.

1973

October

Limited coordinators and district representatives to three consecutive elected terms.

Made charters granted to chapters conditional for a two-year period.

Eliminated distinction between campus and field chapters.

Occupied addition to headquarters building.

1974

February

Women became eligible for membership in PDK --
Bessie F. Gabbard is the first woman member.

August

Created a Center for Dissemination of Innovative Programs.

1975

January

Coordinators met for the first time as a legislative committee.

1977

February

Abolished Past President's Advisory Committee.

Kappan receives the Educational Press Association of America (EdPress) Golden Lamp award for overall excellence in educational journalism.

October

Limited vice presidents to three elected terms.

1979

October

Approved Immediate Past President as voting member of board.

Approved billing for dual membership by headquarters.

1980

July

Past Presidents became eligible to vote in council.

Chapters required to select a foundation representative and a research representative.

1981

July

Robert Cole appointed Editor, Phi Delta Kappan.

1982

Kappan received Distinguished Achievement Award for Excellence in Educational Journalism from Educational Press Association of America for One Theme Issue as part of the All American Awards Program.

1983

July

Changed to an annual membership in lieu of a fiscal year membership.

1984

CEDR began publication of Hot Topics series.

1985

October

First council to be held outside the United States met in Toronto, Ontario.

1986

November

District VII divided into two districts to be numbered District VII and District VIII.

1987

September

Howard Hill assumed responsibilities as the first Director of Chapter Programs.

October

Approval given for a major expansion to the headquarters building.

1988

January

Pauline Gough appointed Editor, Phi Delta Kappan.

1989

October

Dedicated a major addition to the headquarters building and International Conference Center.

1990

January

Referendum ballot creating Coordinator Legislative Committee approved.

1991

October

Silver Anniversary of Phi Delta Kappa Educational Foundation celebrated.

1993

November

Chapter membership committees given final authority for approving new members.

1994

March

Accepted responsibility for Future Educators of America.

1995

July

The Center on Education Policy, supported by Phi Delta Kappa, was established in Washington, D.C.

1995

October

District IX (International District) created effective July 1, 1996.

November

International conference center renamed Rose International Conference Center.

December

Ronald J. Joekel appointed as Phi Delta Kappa's fourth Executive Director (December 1995-June 1999).

1996

February

Referendum ballot creating international at-large, associate, and undergraduate student memberships approved; ballot also provided for self-nomination and extended eligibility to student teachers, beginning graduate students, and persons in educationally-related fields.

1996

July

Approved establishment of the National Center for Curriculum Audit and the National Center for Effective Schools under the auspices of Phi Delta Kappa.

1997

February

Revised PDK's vision and mission statements and approved goals for the year 2006.

Interim amendment approved changing the biennial council to a smaller legislative council consisting of the board and area coordinators.

Approved reducing from three to two the number of vice presidents on the Board of Directors.

Approved primary election of president-elect candidates by chapters.

October

PDK's first International Conference, Forum, and Legislative Council held in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Council approved a two-year pilot program for direct membership.

1998

July

Approved completion of third floor of Rose International Conference Center.

Changed automatic withdrawal for nonpayment of dues from three to two years.

1999

July

George Kersey, Jr. appointed PDK's fifth Executive Director (July 1999-June 2004).

February

Amendment changing "fraternity" designation to "association" passed on chapter referendum.

2000

July

PDK Constitution amended to include direct membership category and to standardize membership eligibility requirements.

2001

July

Board of Directors began association-wide strategic planning process.

PDK awarded Lilly Endowment grant to support the Community Alliances to Promote Education (CAPE).

Constitution amended to allow post-baccalaureate students pursuing initial licensure to join PDK as student members at half dues; to require special district representative election if position vacated more than 90 days before term expires; and to change six-meeting requirement for chapters to six meetings/activities.

First PDK Constitutional Convention held in Bloomington, Indiana.

2003

March

Constitution and Bylaws revised and approved by chapter referendum to include all member vote; professional, associate, institutional membership categories; International Board designation; regional restructuring; coordinators replaced by chapter/member liaisons; annual budgeting; and four required chapter officers.

June

Bruce Smith appointed Editor, Phi Delta Kappan.

November

First annual professional development conference in St. Louis, Missouri.

2004

July

New regional alignment implemented with elected regional representatives; Area Coordinators designated as Chapter/Member Liaisons.

October

William J. Bushaw appointed PDK's sixth Executive Director.

2005

July

Bylaws amended to create new international electronic membership category.

Future Educators of America changed to Future Educators Association.

PDK International Board approved first statewide chapter in Washington.

September

The first issue of EDge offered to members in electronic format; EDge replaces long-standing Fastback series.

2006

January

PDK's Centennial Year begins.

First meeting of Chapter/Member Liaisons held in Bloomington, IN.

April

PDK reestablishes Emerging Leaders program that was offered in 1981 during 75th anniversary but then discontinued; six Kappan leaders under age 40 selected for first class.

May

PDK joins the Washington, D.C.-based Learning First Alliance (LFA), an umbrella organization including the largest associations serving educators.

September

PDK offers first Internet-based webinar discussing the PDK/Gallup Poll results.

2007

December

New comprehensive association management software system launched, assisting board and staff in providing increased member and chapter services.

PDK Educational Foundation approves new Bylaws, permitting the increase in the number of board members from five to ten.

2008

January

PDK International Board approves new vision statement and three goals aligned with long-standing tenets of research, service, and leadership.

PDK International Board authorizes restructuring to align staff with three tenets: research, service, and leadership.

July

Joan Richardson appointed Editor-in-Chief, Phi Delta Kappan.

September

PDK International Board authorizes sale of PDK headquarters building to Indiana University with lease-back option; money from the sale placed in building fund.

2009

January

PDK International Board approves plan to shift regional representative operational responsibilities to field representatives and change the name of Chapter/Member Liaison to Area Directors.

April

PDK launches first online community, PDKConnect.

October

Board approved a reapportionment plan that established six regions effective July 2010.

December

The Future Educators Association® (FEA) is officially recognized by the United States Department of Education as a Career and Technical Service Organization (CTSO), making state and local programs eligible for monetary support using federal Perkins funding. FEA is the first new Career Technical Student Organization approved in over 25 years.

2010

June

The PDK International Board of Directors adopts revised board policies that shift all operational responsibilities from board members to the PDK International staff.

August

First annual Area Directors’ Meeting held in Chicago, Illinois.

October

PDK acquires Pi Lambda Theta (PLT), a 100-year-old collegiate honor society for education students. The acquisition was unanimously approved by the PDK International Board of Directors and the Pi Lambda Theta Board of Directors. Though Pi Lambda Theta’s purpose and name remain the same, the governance responsibilities shift to the PDK International board. The PDK board appoints PLT’s First Vice President to serve as an at-large PDK board member. The PDK Educational Foundation assumes responsibility for the PLT Endowment.

December

The PDK International board approves a dual membership option for qualified Pi Lambda Theta and Phi Delta Kappa members.

 2011

February

Student members of the Future Educators Association® (FEA) attending the 22nd annual FEA conference in Atlanta, Georgia, elect their first national student officers.

The PDK International Board approves revised Articles of Incorporation for PDK.

Educational Horizons, the signature publication of Pi Lambda Theta receives a significant redesign.

May

The PDK membership overwhelmingly ratifies new bylaws that clarify the governing responsibilities for Phi Delta Kappa International, Pi Lambda Theta, and the Future Educators Association. PDK membership is open to professional educators and other individuals who are committed to the purposes of PDK. These bylaws replace constitution and bylaws ratified in 2003.

June

The PDK International board unanimously approves establishing a PDK office in Washington, DC.

August

The Future Educators Association® offers individual membership to high school and college students, and others who are interested in affiliating with the organization. This is a significant departure from its past practice only offering institutional affiliation to high school FEA chapters. FEA launches Go Teach, a quarterly magazine for FEA students and their advisors.