Lastinger Center renews early learning partnerships with FDOE
The UF Lastinger Center for Learning recently received a three-year contract with the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) to administer Flamingo Early Learning to early childhood providers across the state. Since 2015, the Center has partnered with the FDOE and...
Newly-Signed Bill Creates UF Lastinger Center for Learning Statute and Tutoring Program
[Tallahassee], Fla. – School districts, educators and students will receive extra support from the University of Florida to improve student outcomes in early learning, literacy and math thanks to House Bill 1361, which was signed into law Thursday. Funded by the...
Join New Worlds Reading at the 2024 Book Bash in Jacksonville on May 10th
Jacksonville families of VPK– 5th grade students are invited to attend New Worlds Reading’s 2024 Book Bash on Friday, May 10, at the Jacksonville Public Library – Main Library. Families will join New Worlds Reading as they spotlight the third year of the program...
Is skill heterogeneity in kindergarten classrooms associated with the persistence of pre-K gains? Evidence from the IES early learning network
Lastinger Center Senior Manager of Research and Evaluation Mary Bratsch-Hines worked with collaborators Michael Little, Kevin C. Bastian, Lora Cohen-Vogel, Peg Burchinal, and Ellen Peisner-Feinberg to examine the convergence of Pre-K attending and non-Pre-K attending...
Florida’s New Worlds Reading program off to a good start
The program created in 2021 has already helped hundreds of thousands of Florida students who were struggling with reading. As a classroom teacher nearly 20 years ago, it was unfathomable to think that children across Florida could get free books and activities...
Lastinger Center hosts 45th Annual International Conference
Researchers and professionals from around the globe gathered for the 45th annual International Academy for Research in Learning Disabilities (IARLD) conference in Gainesville, FL from October 25 through 27, 2023, to discuss research and practice that supports students...
New Worlds Reading By The Numbers: 2022-2023 Success
The New Worlds Reading Initiative 2022-2023 Annual Enrollment Report describes New Worlds Reading’s impact on home literacy practices and children’s reading achievement based on both survey feedback from families involved in the program and data obtained from the...
Free Florida Reading Program Launches Regional Partners Program to Reach More VPK – 5th Grade Families in Need of Literacy Support
The New Worlds Reading Initiative is partnering with organizations across the state of Florida to support families and communities through literacy workshops and events! Florida, December 12, 2023 – In an effort to boost literacy rates across Florida, the UF Lastinger...
Tyran W. Butler, Ph.D. Joins UF Lastinger Center for Learning as Early Learning Principal
The University of Florida Lastinger Center for Learning proudly announces the appointment of Tyran Butler, Ph.D., as Early Learning Principal. Dr. Butler brings a wealth of experience to the role in developing academic programs in early childhood education, advancing...
Celebrate Three Years of Advancing Childhood Literacy with New Worlds Reading’s Free Book Bash
Miami families of VPK students and K – 5th grade public and charter school students are invited to attend the “Splash Into New Worlds” Book Bash to receive free books and reading activities, as well as participate in a read aloud and book signing with Malcolm...
2023-24 Impact Highlights
Read the 2023-24 Annual Impact Highlights to learn more about the Center’s recent efforts to advance the quality of education in early learning, literacy, mathematics and data science.