In2Books Origins

1997-1998

• Nina Zolt creates In2Books. It is implemented in a third grade classroom in Arlington, Virginia.

1998-1999

• The program grows to six elementary school classrooms in Washington, D.C., New York, and California, and expands to include second, third, and fourth grade classes.

1999-2000

• The program grows to 10 Washington, D.C. classrooms.
• Westat, an independent research firm, conducts an assessment that confirms In2Books improves writing skills and develops higher level thinking skills.

2000-2001

• The program grows to serve more than 300 DCPS students.
• In response to teacher suggestions, In2Books offers professional development companion courses for in-service and/or graduate credit and begins teacher consultant visits to classrooms to provide program implementation and support.

2001-2002

• The program includes 1,100 students, reaching nearly 20% of all Washington, D.C. elementary schools, more than doubling the number of students participating.
• In2Books increases classroom visits of teacher consultants and adds a second, more advanced professional development course for educators, offering in-service and/or graduate credit for returning In2Books teachers.
• In response to principals' suggestions, In2Books introduces family programs.

2002-2003

• In2Books recruits more than 3,000 pen pals to correspond with participating students.

2003-2004

• In2Books expands to more 6,000 student participants, including more than 60% of Washington, D.C. elementary schools.
• In2Books recruits more than 2,000 pen pals to correspond with participating students.

2004-2006

• The program goes digital: In2Books invests in automating back-end processes for managing pen pal letters and moves the In2Books experience for students and adult pen pals totally online.

2007

• In2Books merges with ePals, creating ePals, Inc. and the ePals Foundation.
• In response to the suggestions of numerous pen pals, teachers, students and families, In2Books creates a home edition product to complement the classroom version of In2Books and bring the love of reading and learning to families everywhere.
• ePals debuts the all digital In2Books product suite at the International Reading Association convention in Toronto Canada