Chris Sprowls’ literacy initiative hits $50M private funding goal
FloridaPolitics.com Sprowls said 135,000 Florida students have received books through the program. House Speaker Chris Sprowls announced Wednesday that his statewide book delivery program is now fully funded thanks to $50 million in commitments from corporate...
Florida’s struggling readers flock to free book program
A $200 million effort approved in 2021 by the Florida Legislature already has shipped nearly 336,000 free books to elementary school students in the state, making good on a promise to deliver a new book every month to children who need to boost reading skills.The...
Math Nation Accelerates Equitable Learning and Relevant Content with Microsoft Azure
For 20 years, the Lastinger Center at the University of Florida has been leading educational innovations to improve teaching and learning for those who need it most. By blending cutting-edge academic research and practice, their Math Nation program is providing an...
UF Lastinger Center for Learning Selects Scholastic as Partner in New Worlds Reading Initiative
The Lastinger Center for Learning at the University of Florida announced the selection of Scholastic as its strategic partner in New Worlds Reading—a program to ship free books, in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole, to over half a million K-5 students who are not...
The science of reading is a critical first step to improve student literacy
Florida’s third grade reading scores were released a few weeks ago. Statewide, 54% of third graders are reading on grade level compared with 58% in 2019. While the pandemic stagnated student learning, these scores reveal that we need to approach reading instruction in...
UF study: Mental health a priority for students this school year
While debate roils over how K-12 students will resume their studies this fall, education experts are advising one thing must be addressed before classes begin again: student’s lingering mental health needs from the onset of the pandemic. In a new policy brief by the...
Jeff Vinik invests $3 million on early learning research in Hillsborough County
TAMPA — On top of everything else, the coronavirus pandemic has exposed the critically important link between workers having child care and businesses running smoothly.Workers need to know their kids are in good hands to be able to focus on the job. At the same time,...
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.