The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education founded Parents As Teachers (PAT) in 1981. In 1986, Ohio, Texas, and Connecticut became the first three states outside of Missouri to implement PAT programs. In 1991, PAT attained international status when Australia began providing services. In 1994, the organization received public commendation from the United States Secretary of Education, as evaluations of PAT programs showed significant gains for high-needs children and their parents. By 1998, the number of PAT programs reached more than 2,000 sites including 49 states in the United States, Australia, Canada, England, and New Zealand. With certification of the first PAT program in Hawaii on July 12, 2001, PAT officially reached all 50 states. New developments in PAT include the Born to Learn ...