Education

Pre-School Charter School

Charter Schools are public schools of choice- operated by a non-profit agency. Tuition is free for eligible children. Eligibility is based on the child's developmental disability or delay, similar to any public school. Charter schools are accountable to the local school board to produce positive academic results and adhere to the charter contract. The basic concept of charter schools is that they exercise increased autonomy in return for this accountability. They are responsible for both academic results and fiscal practices to several groups: the local school board, the parents who choose them, and the public that funds them. The purpose of the UCP Charter School is to provide a learning environment that will have the greatest impact on early learning for infants and toddlers with a developmental disability or delay. Some of the philosophies of the program include:

• Providing a seamless, comprehensive and integrated one-stop delivery system of services from birth through kindergarten (the team includes physical, speech and occupational therapists, vision and behavior specialists, social workers and educators)
• Providing high academic and behavior expectations that prepare children to participate in kindergarten at whatever level is appropriate
• Providing activities that capitalize on the child's strengths and abilities in order to address their needs. Instead of concentrating on what the child "can't" do - UCP builds on what they "can" do.
• Providing opportunities, through our Inclusion Program, for children with and without disabilities to learn and play together.
• Providing non-traditional and innovative instructional methods.
• Partnering with other specialists such as CITE to provide vision services for our children.

Instructional/Teaching Methods:

• All classes are taught by a teacher who has a Bachelors degree, or higher, and who is also eligible for certification in the state of Florida.
• Each class has one or two Teacher's Assistants based on the number and involvement level of the students. At least one of these Teacher Assistants will have an AA Degree, CDA, or higher.
• Class size will range from 7 to 15 children based on the age and involvement level of the students.

Classroom Programs:

Before and after school care is available at all of our centers.  Please check with each location for specific details.

• AM or PM Program - For Infants/Young Toddlers - Up to Age 2 ½.
  • AM - 8:30am - 11:30am
  • PM - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
  • Monday/Wednesday
  • Tuesday/Thursday
  • Monday - Thursday
• Full Day Program - For Toddlers or Pre-School Children up to age 5 years
  • 8:30am - 2:30pm (1:30pm on Wednesdays)
  • Monday/Wednesday
  • Tuesday/Thursday
  • Monday - Friday
• Autism Class - For Toddler or Pre-School Children up to Age 5 years with Autism/PDD or similar behavior challenges. Smaller group size/staff ratios and staff trained in behavior/communication techniques are a feature of this class.
  • 8:30am - 2:30pm (1:30pm on Wednesdays)
  • Monday/Wednesday
  • Tuesday/Thursday
  • Monday - Frid

Family Services Staff:

• East Orange Center
  Phone: (407) 281-0441

• Ursula Rajkumar, Family Services Associate - West Orange Center
  Phone: (407) 905-0531 E-mail: urajkumar@ucpcfl.org

• Paola Viega, Family Services Specialist - Seminole Center
  Phone: (407) 322-6222 E-mail: pviega@ucpcfl.org

• Ana Velez, Family Services Specialist - Osceola Center
  Phone: (407) 932-3445 E-mail: avelez@ucpcfl.org

• Gina Heredia, Family Services Associate - Osceola Center
  Phone: (407) 932-3445 E-mail: gheredia@ucpcfl.org

• Linneth Castagnetto, Family Services Specialist - Downtown Orlando/Holloway Center
  Phone: (407) 852-3300 E-mail: lcastagnetto@ucpcfl.org

• Maria Caban , Family Services Associate - Downtown Orlando/Holloway Center
  Phone: (407) 852-3300 E-mail: mcaban@ucpcfl.org

• Irene Becerril , Family Services Associate - Pine Hills Center
  Phone: (407) 299-5553 E-mail: ibecerril@ucpcfl.org

Eligibility for Classroom Programs:

• The child must reside in the county in which the Charter School is located.
  Exceptions:
  • Children who reside in Lake County may participate in our West Orange Charter School through an inter-district agreement with the Lake County School District.
  • Children who reside in south Orange County may participate in our Kissimmee Charter School, through an inter-district agreement with the School District of Osceola County.
  • Children (under the age of 3) who reside in Volusia County may participate in our Seminole Preschool, through an agreement with the Volusia County Early Steps program.
• The child must complete an eligibility evaluation either through the Part C/Developmental Center (if under age 3) or the Early Intervention Services. UCP of Central Florida can assist in scheduling these evaluations.
• The child must have an active Family Support Plan (FSP) if under the age of three, or Individual Education Plan if over the age the age of three, listing eligibility for classroom services.
• The parent must complete an application and intake packet.
• Registration is held in March for the upcoming academic year. A random drawing is held for available slots. Openings are filled throughout the year based on the waiting list and a "first come-first served basis" according to available slots (i.e. based on the child's age and involvement level).
• Parent must agree to commit to 10 hours per school year of voluntary service to the school and at least 75% attendance for their child.
• Each child needs proof of residency, current immunization, and physical examination (within one year).

Middle School Charter School

The Transitional Learning Academy is a middle school charter school (located at UCP of Central Florida’s Downtown Orlando/ Holloway Center) for students with cognitive differences who are seeking a new approach to instruction. The program has a strong focus on integrated technology, communication, and access to academic learning for all students. The philosophy of the school is to celebrate each student's "abilities" and will focus on what they are able to do instead of what they cannot do.

These students must have some functional way to communicate whether verbally, through sign language, or using a communication device. They must able to follow at least simple commands and learn basic skills; behavior is not the child's main impairment. Parents must be willing to actively participate and support the program.

Tuition for the Transitional Learning Academy is free for all eligible children. Additional services, such as before and after school care, and holiday and summer camps, are available on a private-pay basis.

Home Early Intervention

UCP of Central Florida offers Early Intervention services in the Home as an opportunity to make use of typically occurring events, activities, and consequences as a context in which to teach specific skills. An initial assessment to determine each child's strengths and weaknesses is administered within the first few visits. From the results of this assessment, specific goals are developed with input from the child's parents/guardians. Home Early Intervention is provided by a teacher or a child development specialist/nurse usually one or two times per week (one hour per session).

Home Early Intervention is provided for children birth to age 3 years with a developmental disability or delay. It is free of charge for eligible children.

This service is available through contracts with the Part C/Early Steps Program in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Lake Counties.

For more information - Melanie Bolton at (407) 281-0441 or mbolton@ucpcfl.org

Inclusion Program

UCP of Central Florida believes that all children should learn and play together! As an integral part of our pre-school program, we invite children without disabilities to enroll in our classes. Currently, 25-50% of each center population consists of children without disabilities.

UCP of Central Florida's Inclusion Program is of the highest quality, offering many components not found in a typical preschool:

• All teachers are certified and have a Bachelors degree or above
• One or two additional Teacher's Assistants - one of whom has at least an AA or CDA
• Smaller Group Size
• State of the art equipment
• Additional programs (included in fee) such as Music Therapy and Tumbling
• Physical/Speech and Occupational Therapists as part of the team - giving feedback and ideas
• Developmental Best Practices/School readiness skills
• Individual Evaluation and Goals for each child

Benefits of Inclusion:

Inclusion has many benefits to both children with and without disabilities:

For children with disabilities:

• Inclusion provides role models and peer motivation.
• Inclusion provides opportunities for friendships when children are too young to care that they are "different."
• Inclusion provides enhanced opportunities for children to learn the social skills necessary to truly be accepted.

For children without disabilities:

• Inclusion provides opportunities to learn about compassion and caring.
• Inclusion provides opportunities to learn "teaching skills" and gain self confidence.
• Inclusion provides opportunities for children to learn that being different is acceptable and not something to be afraid of or shamed by.

Fees:

• $150 per week (full day) for children up to two years old.

• $125 per week (full day) for children between two and five years old.

• School Readiness/VPK- 4C funding accepted

Enrollment:

In order to enroll, each parent must complete an Intake Packet. Slots are filled on a "first come, first served" basis.

Each child must have a current immunization and proof of physical within one year to enroll.

Please call the location closest to you in order to enroll. Click on the Location button above for contact information.

School Calendars

Click the links below to download School Calendars for Orange, Seminole, or Osceola County.

All calendars are in Adobe PDF format

• Orange County (62 kb)
• Osceola County (64 kb)
• Seminole County (64 kb)

Download Adobe Reader

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