Erasmus Programme replaced by the Lifelong Learning Programme 2007–2013 on 1 January 2007. The programme is named after the Dutch philosopher, theologian, Renaissance Humanist, monk, and devout Roman Catholic, Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam, called "the crowning glory of the Christian humanists". Erasmus, along with his good friend Thomas More, became the center of European intellectual life during the Renaissance. Known for his satire, Erasmus urged internal reform of the Catholic Church. He encouraged a recovery of the Catholic Patristic tradition against contemporary abuses of the Sacraments and certain excessive devotional practices. He famously clashed with Protestant revolutionary Martin Luther on the subject
Renaissance Learning company figures. Renaissance was founded in 1986 by Judith and Terrance Paul after Judith developed "Accelerated Reader", originally named "Read Up!", in the basement of her home in Port Edwards, Wisconsin. Judith designed "Accelerated Reader" to encourage her children read more. "Read Up!" changed its name to Advantage Learning Systems, Inc., in 1991 before adopting Renaissance Learning in 2001. In 2016, Renaissance re-branded and dropped “Learning” from their name. On September 25, 1997, 2.8 million shares of Renaissance were offered for $16 a share on the Nasdaq exchange under the ticker ALSI with a market capitalization of $44.8 million. The