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 View this three minute video tour of the EPI Website.
 Civic Ventures, a think tank on boomers, and MetLife Foundation have awared the Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) at Polk State College $25,000 to design and implement a program that helps adults over 50 prepare for encore careers in K-12 eduction. Encore careers combine personal fulfillment, social impact, and continued income. Let the EPI office know if you are 50+ so that you can be invited to a Meet and Greet to learn more about resources available.
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.
Participants must pass the Florida Teacher Certification Exams (FTCE), which include the Subject Area Test, Professional Ed Test, and General Knowledge Test. Subject area test must be passed before beginning field experience.
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. Research Based Practices in Reading course will meet from 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m. beginning fall 2010. 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.

Cost increase effective August 2010
 Print "steps to enroll" to begin the admission process
Teachers and Non-Teachers Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) has cohort groups beginning at different locations and dates during the year.
20111 New Fall Cohort Groups starting in September 2010
 Mandatory new student orientation for Group AA: Thursday, September 2, Winter Haven Student Center, WST127, 5:30-7:00pm
Mandatory new student orientation for Group AF: Thursday, September 23, Winter Haven Student Center, WST127, 5:30-7:00pm
20111 Continuing Fall Cohort Groups starting in August 2010





EPI Program Information
 Information on steps to Florida Teacher Certification, FEAP's, Florida Teacher Certification Exams, and purchasing FTCE study books
EPI participants are eligible to apply for financial aid. Funding is based on financial need.
 Contact Student Services for registration issues and concerns.
 EPI Office Information
EPI Information for Enrolled EPI Participants Only
 Registration information for FTCE Professional Ed and General Knowledge Workshops
 Fill your Toolbox Activity Night Schedule
 Registration information for Kagan Professional Development Workshop
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