Early Learning Florida was established in 2015 by the Lastinger Center for Learning to serve as a professional learning system to support early learning educators. Through a generous $2 million donation from the Helios Foundation, Early Learning Florida will further its reach to early childhood educators, deepen its direct impact on educators and children and expand its early language and literacy focus.

Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed. By equipping teachers to support the dynamic needs of all children, including those with or at risk for disabilities, we are ensuring all children have futures defined by limitless possibility through Embedded Instruction California.

Passion for early childhood learning and care has expanded beyond the UF campus into the local community. The Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies has partnered with local grassroots organization South West Advocacy Group (SWAG) and O2B Kids to transform early childhood learning and care in an underserved local community.

Early Learning Florida is enhancing early childhood education by connecting early childhood educators to high quality, online professional development. Through the Lastinger Center for Learning’s interactive online platform, early childhood educators receive high quality PD across all of Florida’s school districts. The project’s track record of success is leading to nationwide expansion.

The Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies’ dedication to all children has expanded UF’s reach on a global scale. The transdisciplinary collaboration between Colleges of Education and Medicine faculty with the World Health Organization has developed a parenting skills training program focused on caring for children with developmental delays in Zambia.

The Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies is bridging the research-to-practice gap through a powerful initiative that is fostering inclusion in the classroom for young children with or at risk for disabilities using embedded instruction methods.