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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 Summer Institute 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 School Readiness Professional Learning Communities (SRPLCs)—spaces for reflection, data analysis, and peer collaboration that translate learning into daily classroom practice. Ongoing instructional coaching 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’s 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’s main objectives are to:

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

We aim to do this by:

Building leadership capacity among principals and instructional coaches to sustain effective early learning and coaching practices.
Improving alignment between pre-kindergarten and early elementary instruction through collaborative professional learning structures.
Developing a sustainable professional development framework 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.