about

Grant Overview

At the heart of PRAISE is a commitment to growing the capacity of early childhood educators and leaders through meaningful, collaborative learning. Each cohort begins with a dynamic听 Summer Institute 听that brings together teachers, paraprofessionals, and school leaders to explore evidence-based practices and strengthen shared goals for student success. Throughout the year, participants engage in听 School Readiness Professional Learning Communities (SRPLCs)鈥攕paces for reflection, data analysis, and peer collaboration that translate learning into daily classroom practice. Ongoing听 instructional coaching 听further personalizes support, helping educators refine their craft and sustain growth. Together, these experiences create a vibrant professional learning network dedicated to improving instruction and outcomes for Florida鈥檚 youngest learners.

Project Objectives

PRAISE is designed to strengthen the instructional capacity of early childhood educators and leaders to improve school readiness outcomes for preschool English learners.

The project鈥檚 main objectives are to:

Enhance instructional practice 听by deepening teachers鈥� knowledge and use of evidence-based strategies that promote oral language and literacy.
Improve School Readiness 听and student literacy achievement in VPK programs.
Increase family engagement 听by equipping educators and families with tools and strategies to support children鈥檚 language and literacy growth at home and school.

We aim to do this by:

Building leadership capacity 听among principals and instructional coaches to sustain effective early learning and coaching practices.
Improving alignment 听between pre-kindergarten and early elementary instruction through collaborative professional learning structures.
Developing a sustainable professional development framework 听that can be refined, evaluated, and replicated across districts to promote lasting impact.

Collectively, these objectives guide PRAISE in its mission to advance instructional excellence, strengthen family-school partnerships, and ensure learning opportunities for all young children.