Preparing for Readiness and Academic Improvement
for pre-School ELs (PRAISE)

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Preparing for Readiness and Academic Improvement for pre-School ELs (PRAISE) Workshop

Purpose of PRAISE

The Preparing for Readiness and Academic Improvement for pre-School English Learners (PRAISE) project is a federally funded partnership between Florida Atlantic University and the School District of Osceola County designed to strengthen the quality and practices of early learning instruction and leadership.

PRAISE provides:

  • Intensive, research-based professional development for Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) teachers, paraprofessionals, and school leaders.
  • Evidence-based frameworks of effective teacher-child interactions and instructional coaching.
  • Collaboration among educators through professional learning communities, a 4-day summer institute, and classroom-embedded coaching.

PRAISE’s purpose is to improve early childhood school readiness outcomes by equipping educators and leaders with the knowledge, tools, and reflective practices that support every child’s success.

Impact of PRAISE

Project PRAISE has demonstrated measurable gains in both teacher practice and early learner outcomes across Osceola’s Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) classrooms. Through sustained professional learning cycles, individualized coaching, and collaborative inquiry, participating educators have shown significant improvement in the quality of teacher-child interactions—as measured by CLASS. Teachers report stronger confidence in using data to guide instruction and greater alignment between pre-K and K–3 instructional practices. As a result, students in PRAISE classrooms have exhibited steady growth in early literacy and language development as evidenced by state assessments and formative measures. Beyond quantitative outcomes, PRAISE has fostered a culture of reflection, collaboration, and instructional excellence, building a sustainable model of early learning leadership that continues to strengthen readiness and academic achievement for Florida’s youngest learners.

The partnership that FAU and SDOC have developed continues to empower VPK teachers to be more than just "daycare”. Together researchers, district and school leaders, teachers and families are bridging VPK and K-5 systems to create a uniform, collaborative atmosphere that emphasizes student growth and achievement in a supportive, developmentally appropriate environment.

 
Osceola Schools
FAU College of Education
 

Contact & Acknowledgments

  • Acknowledgment: This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Education under the Office of English Language Acquisition, Grant Number T365Z220104.
  • Disclaimer: The contents of this website do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education and should not be assumed to be endorsed by the Federal Government.

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