Statewide Listening Tour to Shed Light on Florida’s Education Needs and Opportunities
A large majority of Florida students are not able to reach proficiency in math. Alachua County, Fla. – The University of Florida Lastinger Center for Learning has launched its 2023 Listening Tour to gather stakeholder input on education needs and identify ways to...
Expanding Florida’s literacy ecosystem with New Worlds Reading Teacher Professional Development
This summer UF Lastinger Center for Learning facilitated five New Worlds Reading Teacher Professional Development sessions across the state. Between June 1 and 28, 359 teachers participated in the training that connected New Worlds Reading at-home book delivery to...
Hillsborough Early Learning Network Innovation Programs
The UF Lastinger Center for Learning's Hillsborough Early Learning Network (HELN) is investing in its programs more than ever with the introduction of its latest initiative: Innovation Programs. An Innovation Program is an early learning program within the HELN...
Free Florida Reading Program Expands Eligibility to VPK Students Just in Time for Back-to-School Season
The New Worlds Reading Initiative will continue to support Florida families and children by delivering free books and reading resources directly to VPK-5th grade students this school year! Parents and guardians can apply for their child to participate in New Worlds...
Florida invests in education with the UF Lastinger Center
On June 15, the Florida Governor signed the state’s $116.5 billion budget, including some big investments in education. Among these are renewed commitments from the legislature to fund the Lastinger Center for Learning’s initiatives that serve educators, students, and...
Celebrating a new foundation for coaching in Marion County
Thirteen new graduates of the UF Lastinger Center for Learning’s K-12 Instructional Coaching Certification program were honored at a coaching showcase in Marion County, FL, on May 17, 2023.Graduates shared testimonies and answered questions about their experience with...
Improving national literacy won’t take a village; it will take an entire ecosystem
The bookworm is on the verge of becoming an endangered species in America. More than 60% of students in our nation's K-12 schools can’t proficiently read at their grade levels, and pandemic-related remote learning and a teacher shortage in the past few years have...
Addressing Florida’s critical shortage area with Math Matrix
One in every 17 math courses in Florida is taught by an educator who entered the profession from a non-traditional route¹. The UF Lastinger Center for Learning’s Math Matrix is providing online, on-demand, discipline-specific mathematics professional development to...
Hillsborough Early Learning Network Convenes Spanish Community of Practice
For the first time in four years, the Hillsborough Early Learning Network (HELN) hosted an in-person community of practice (CoP) session on March 4 with an attendance of 41 teachers and both English and Spanish sessions offered.Participants and leaders recognized the...
Free Florida Reading Program Partners with Local Fifth Grader and Inspiring Professionals to Boost State Literacy Rates
The New Worlds Reading Initiative is encouraging families to embrace the power of reading this National Reading Month and beyond—and more than 500,000 FL K-5 students are eligible to receive free books!Parents and guardians can apply for their child to participate in...
2022 Annual Report
Read the 2022 Annual Report to learn how the Lastinger Center has worked to transform teaching and learning through creative, innovative approaches to education over the last 20 years.