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Video - Tour the EPI Website
 Polk State College has partnered with the Polk County School District to offer two types of EPI accelerated training programs in the fall.
1. Newly hired teachers who have a four-year degree and did not major in education.
2. Professionals (Non-Teachers) who have a four-year degree and did not major in education and are not currently teaching.
This program will satisfy professional preparation and professional education competence for the Florida Professional Certificate. Through the Institute, people with bachelors' degrees and teaching aspirations can receive teacher certification designed to give them the skills they need to become highly qualified teachers in a fraction of the time required for a traditional education degree. Applicant priority will be given to students interested in teaching high-need subject areas and specializations.
Before program completion, participants must pass the Florida Teacher Certification Exams (FTCE), which include the Subject Area Test, Professional Ed Test, and General Knowledge Test.
Participants will receive an EPI Certificate after program completion, which will include: 1. 60 ESOL in-service hours for Empowerment 2. 60 ESOL in-service points for Cross Cultural Communication 3. Reading Endorsement Competency 2 * ESOL in-service points are for Polk County ONLY
The Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) program at Polk State College is a combination of face-2-face and Internet classes. The face-2-face classes meet two times a month from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. See cohort schedule below. The supplemental Internet components consist of tasks/assignments based on Florida Educator Accomplished Practices, meaningful Internet discussions related to readings/assignments, an Online Portfolio Guide, News/information, grades, a dropbox for submitting tasks/assignments, and email.
EPI Course Descriptions
EPI Program Cost
Steps to Enroll in the Educator Preparation Institute
Teachers and Non-Teachers Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) has cohort groups beginning at different locations and dates during the year. Check the schedule below:
Cohort Classes:
Tuition increase: Each course tuition will increase to $292.04 starting in August 2009.
The cohort groups are for students already enrolled in the program 20101 Continuing Group N Winter Haven and Lakeland - Cohort Group is Full 20101 Continuing Group O Lakeland Cohort Group is Full 20101 New Group P Lake Wales - Cohort Group is Full 20101 New Group Q Winter Haven and Lakeland - Cohort Group is Full 20101 New Group R Ridge Community High School - Cohort Group is Full
20102 Spring Term Cohort Groups - Registration begins November 2, for online registration and November 9, for Face-2-Face registration
20102 Spring term continuing groups - (Students already enrolled in the program) Select schedule link below and then click "open", when another dialogue box comes up click "cancel" to view schedule. Group O Lakeland Group P Lake Wales Group Q Winter Haven and Lakeland Group R Ridge Community High Group U Lakeland Dates: November 2009 - May 2010
20102 Spring Term New Cohort Groups Group T Winter Haven and lakeland - Classes begin in February 2010 and end in September 2010. Mandatory New Student Orientation for Group T will be held February 3, Winter Haven Student Center, WST 127, from 5:30pm - 7:00pm.
Group V Lake Wales - Classes begin in April 2010 and end in October 2010. Mandatory New Student Orientation for Group V will be held Tuesday, April 6, Winter Haven Student Center, WST 127, from 5:30pm - 7:00pm. Enrollment Process:

Select Flow Chart/Timeline above for a larger view.
New Student Orientation: Before EPI participants can begin the program, it is mandatory to attend the New Student Orientation from 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m. on the Winter Haven Campus in the Student Center, WST 127: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Resource Page: Information on Department of Education Certification, District Information, and FTCE Florida Teacher Certification Exams Information
Instructions for Using PAL (Polk Access to Learning)
Polk Access to Learning (PAL): EPI Online Course Website
Financial Aid: Financial Aid (Pell Grant)
Student Services: Contact Student Services for registration issues and concerns at 863-297-1010 ext. 5219 or ext. 5016.
Contact Information: Educator Preparation Institute Polk State College 999 Avenue H NE Station #25 Winter Haven, FL 33881-4299
Beverly Woolery at bwoolery@polk.edu or phone 863-292-3642
Sherri Davis sherrid@polk.edu or phone 863-298-6812
EPI Fax: 863-298-6814 |