The Foundation for Osceola Education, Inc.

Bookmark Buddies is a successful literacy program designed to raise the reading levels of at-risk third grade students in Osceola County. The program targets third grade students who read below grade level and are at risk of scoring a Level 1 on the FSA. To improve reading skills and reduce the risk of retention, Bookmark Buddies matches these third grade students with trained mentors from the community. Once matched, the child and mentor meet once a week for thirty minutes in the child’s school using carefully selected reading materials at the child’s current reading level.

A free teacher store providing school supplies for needy children in their classrooms, A Gift for Teaching-Osceola is stocked with donated surplus supplies, slightly damaged merchandise, individual gifts, and community donations through an annual school supply drive. The products are distributed at no cost to teachers who spend an average of more than $1,000 out of their own pockets to provide for their students and the more than 86% of students who are receiving free or reduced lunch in Osceola County.

Take Stock in Children provides a unique opportunity for low-income and at-risk students, many from minority families, to escape the cycle of poverty through education.  We offer our students college and vocational scholarships, caring volunteer mentors, student advocates (case managers), early intervention, long-term support and hope for a better life.  Our comprehensive services begin in middle school, continue through high school and include transition into college.   Students sign contracts upon entry into the program agreeing to maintain at least a "C" average in all classes, no drugs/alcohol, good attendance, good behavior in and out of school, and meet with a volunteer mentor at school at least 30 minutes each week.  Upon graduation from high school, having met the terms of the contract, students are awarded two or four-year, tuition-free scholarships.

The "Got College~Got Careers"? is a strong partnership between the Education Foundation, Valencia College, and the Osceola School District.  The program is designed to improve college entrance rate in Osceola County by offering: information sessions; bus tours to Valencia College and oTECH; college ambassadors visiting schools and speaking with students; a community calendar; and addressing college financial opportunities.

The Education Foundation has two tracks in their Career Pipeline program, Medical and Construction. The Medical Pipeline Program serves as an avenue to increase the number of students choosing to pursue health care careers.  The program was designed to awaken students' interest in medical careers and to challenge them to work hard and be high achievers.  The program offers a one-day shadowing experience at Advent Health-Celebration. The students are exposed to healthcare careers in the hospital setting.  The program also has Medical Academy that provides students with a week of interaction and learning in the medical field during summer break. These 35 high school students from Osceola spend a week at UCF campus in lab settings, lectures and hands on experiences with college professors.  The Construction Pipeline similar to the Medical Pipeline, has the goal of assisting students pursuing a career in the construction industry and also educating them on the resources that are available to them in Osceola County. One of the ways the program accomplishes this is through the ACE, ACT, and career fair nights. ACT, which is a part of the construction pipeline, is a program that helps students land a summer job or internship in the field of their interest. The ACE program, on the other hand, takes place during the school year and allows students to meet with local professionals after school once a week. During those sessions, students also work on a project in the construction or engineering fields with their mentors. The Construction Pipeline program will help ensure a student’s success in the architecture, construction management, or engineering fields after graduation through many hands on opportunities and networking events with local contractors.  Along with the special programs like ACE and ACT, the Construction Pipeline program also plans field trips to local job sites, pending contractor's approval. In the event that a field trip has to be cancelled due to unexpected events on the job site, the Construction Pipeline also hosts a Speakers Bureau where students are able to hear vital information directly from contractors in the area.