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The Florida Department of Education projects a need of 17,000 to 23,500 new K-12 teachers per year between 2007 and 2017 for a total of more than 200,000 (Jan. 2008 report by FLDOE on Beginning Teacher Certification - Executive Summary). Yet, the number of graduates from colleges of education in Florida is estimated at about 6,000 per year. To help address this need for teachers, Lake Sumter Community College and other Florida community colleges have established Educator Preparation Institutes to offer courses that support teacher certification and on-going professional development. Teacher openings in Lake County Schools have been approximately 500 in 2007-08; 300 in 2008-09; and projections are 200 in 2009-10. Sumter County schools teacher openings have been approximately 55 in 2007-08; 35 in 2008-09; and projections are 35 in 2009-10.

The average K-12 Florida teacher salary was $38,910 in 2009 (http://payscale.com/research/us/state=florida/salary). LSCC’s Educator Preparation Institute has had a 95% teacher placement rate that could be attributed to the quality of its course content taught by K-12 recruited educators in producing high quality graduates capable of passing the Professional Education Exam for state certification. Local and surrounding districts have continually sought out and hired LSCC EPI completers. Lake-Sumter's Teacher Certification Courses are a competency-based accelerated option for individuals with solid academic skills who hold non-education bachelor's degrees. The 7½ - 8 month intense program includes on-line and traditional instruction in Florida Educator Accomplished Practices. Students attend Saturday classes from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with additional work online throughout the week, to prepare for K-12 teaching anywhere in Florida

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Click here for an Application.

The LSCC Educator Preparation Institute is on the Workforce Central Florida approved training program list which qualifies students to receive $2,480 to cover tuition, books, fees, and training supplies with a cap of $5,000. Students can find this information at:
Work Force of Central Florida or
Work Force of Central Florida Training Programs

For more info about the Educator Preparation Institute, contact:
Dr. Glenn Ricci, Dean of Arts and Science Program Development and Teacher Certification Manager Phone: (352) 365-3537 Fax: (352) 365-3590 riccig@lscc.edu