Petrarch was a fourteenth-century Italian scholar who is often considered one of the earliest humanists. He is known for his poetry, particularly his sonnets addressed to Laura, and for his work in reviving classical literature and ideas. His emphasis on the individual and the study of classical texts laid the groundwork for the Renaissance and the humanist movement. Therefore, the most accurate response is:
"a fourteenth-century Italian scholar who proposed a new educational program that became known as humanism."