51³Ô¹ÏÍø

This week, the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Board of Trustees approved a mutually beneficial 10-year facilities use agreement with the , a not-for-profit, tuition-free, Montessori-inspired preschool that supports underserved communities and families living below the federal poverty level. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø will be the first university in Florida to host the academy, and only second in the nation.

The preschool, which is scheduled to open in the fall of 2022, will be housed in the former Karen A. Slattery Educational Research Center for Child Development on the Boca Raton campus. There, the Bezos Academy will fully operate the facility at its expense and will be responsible for all aspects of the operation.

As an advantage to the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø community, the Bezos Academy will reserve 20 percent of available slots in each entering class for children whose parents or legal guardians are full-time 51³Ô¹ÏÍø 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, faculty or staff, and who otherwise meet the program’s income qualifications. Additionally, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø will reserve 20 percent of available slots in each entering kindergarten class at A.D. Henderson University School for children who meet the minimum qualifications and who attend the Bezos Academy.

Beyond these benefits for families, we also envision a partnership between the Bezos Academy and the College of Education, in which 51³Ô¹ÏÍø 51³Ô¹ÏÍø and faculty gain additional opportunities such as internships and field training.

In alignment with 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s goal to increase access to education, the Bezos Academy will provide all instruction, materials, supplies, activities and operating expenses for the program at no expense to the families they serve. This includes multiple nutritious meals and healthy snacks provided to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø throughout the day, also at no cost to their families.

This is an exciting new endeavor for 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, and I look forward to welcoming the Bezos Academy to the Boca Raton campus.