"A world-class learning environment where children can thrive."
-Matthew Mears, the Chancellor of Early Learning, Florida Department of Education-July 2022
Miami Lighthouse Academy once again scores above national average with our innovative inclusion program
In July 2022, Miami Lighthouse Academy received our spring CLASS* scores from the University of Miami,
which showed we were once again above national averages in the areas of emotional support, classroom organization,
and instructional support for both toddler and Pre-K programs.
Notably, our emotional support domain for toddlers scored 6.8 out of 7—more than two points above the national average of 4.62 out of 7.
To quote Chancellor Mears, we are "changing the world one child at a time" and proving that an inclusive classroom is an exceptional classroom.
Please also read our peer-reviewed article that was recently published in the
Early Childhood Education Journal,
entitled "Associations Between Peer Play Interactions and Empathy within an Early Childhood Inclusion Program for Children with Visual Impairment".
*The Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS®) is an observation instrument that assesses the quality of
teacher-child interactions in center-based preschool classrooms.
Miami Lighthouse Academy
Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired - in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Early
Steps and the Early Learning Coalition - offers an inclusion environment for pre-kindergarten, and a kindergarten,
first grade and second grade for blind and visually impaired students. As a certified Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten
(VPK) Provider, the Miami Lighthouse Academy pre-kindergarten enrolls students with and without vision impairment
promoting an inclusive program and resulting in a sense of belonging for all children and families. In support of
our mission, children without vision impairments are selected to aid the learning environment for children with
vision loss.
Miami Lighthouse Academy is a national Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment (APPLE center).
Using the evidence-based HighScope Curriculum, blind or visually impaired students are supported in a print/braille
rich environment. Miami Lighthouse is the first vision rehabilitation educational institution in the U.S. using the
international HighScope Curriculum, and this is the first time that HighScope has been applied to blind learners in
a fully inclusive model. Click here to read
more about the HighScope Curriculum.
Learning in all classrooms is conducted by Florida-certified early childhood teachers, Florida-certified teachers of
the visually impaired and teaching assistants. Currently, research faculty from the University of Miami is
conducting a four year longitudinal study of the participating children and families as we help prepare them for
mainstreaming into our public-school system.
For more information please contact our Program Coordinator at (786)362-7483.
