Since opening in 2011 to help non-traditional students earn a high school diploma, New Beginnings High School has expanded across Polk county and helped thousands of students graduate.
Category: Education
Posted inInsight Polk
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Ensures Legacy of Literacy in Polk
Founded to honor Parton’s father, the program distributed nearly 30,000 books to children in Central Florida in 2025, championing literacy while instilling a love of books and reading from an early age.
Posted inInsight Polk
Tutoring, Hot Meals, and ‘AI-Proof’ Trades: Polk’s Free After-School Boys & Girls Clubs
As Polk County students head back to the classroom, families face a familiar after-school hours scramble. Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County helps ease the strain.
Posted inInsight Polk
Little Free Libraries Open at Lakeland and Winter Haven Bus Terminals
Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance debuts Little Free Libraries at the Lakeland and Winter Haven bus terminals, stocked in part with United Way books aimed at Polk County’s kindergarten readiness gap.
Posted inInsight Polk
Lakeland Regional Hospital’s Discover Program Gives Students In-Depth Healthcare Experience
As Florida faces a growing shortage of healthcare professionals, the Discover Program at Lakeland Regional Health strives to inspire the next generation of providers.
Posted inInsight Polk
Governor Touts Statewide Progress on Standardized Tests at Lakeland Press Conference
Polk scores have consistently lagged behind the state average by about 10 points but show a parallel upward trajectory.
Posted inInsight Polk
$80K Grant Expands Polk Reads AmeriCorps Program
The Polk Education Foundation plans to expand AmeriCorps Polk Reads into fourth and fifth grades and five additional schools, with a GiveWell grant honoring Mabel Schaefer.
Posted inInsight Polk
Planning a Move to Bartow, Mi Escuela Wants People to Think Differently About Montessori
The bilingual, tuition-free public charter school’s new Bartow campus will feature a student kitchen, art studio with a kiln, dance space, and gardens.
Posted inInsight Polk
For 1 in 5 Students, Reading is a Barrier — Roberts Academy Is Working to Change That
Florida Southern College’s Roberts Academy marks 15 years of helping students with dyslexia close literacy gaps — and reshape their futures.
Posted inInsight Polk
Young Chefs Take the Spotlight at IDEA Lakeland Cook-Off
National program uses hands-on cooking to build confidence and encourage healthier habits among students.
