We are striving to provide a relevant and rigorous education to meet the language needs of Exceptional Education Students (ESE) and English Language Learners (ELL).
2020 Crystal Grove Drive
Lakeland, FL 33801
Phone: 863-225-1263
Fax: 863-225-1294
ESE and ELL students are eligible for McKay, Gardiner, Hope, and Florida Tax Credit accessible through the Florida Department of Education, Step Up for Students or AAA Scholarship Foundation.
Please access the links below for easy access.
The McKay Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities provided thousands of Florida students with special needs the opportunity to attend a participating private school.
Learn MoreThe Gardiner Scholarship Program provides eligible students a scholarship that can be used to purchase approved services or products in order to design a customized educational program for the student.
Learn MoreTo expand educational opportunities for children of families that have limited financial resources and to enable children in this state to achieve a greater level of excellence in their education, the Florida Legislature created the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program.
Learn MoreA student enrolled in a Florida public school in kindergarten through grade 12 who has been subjected to an incident of battery; harassment; hazing; bullying; kidnapping; physical attack; robbery; sexual offenses, harassment, assault, or battery; threat or intimidation; or fighting at school the opportunity to transfer to another public school with capacity or enroll in an approved private school.
Learn MoreWe believe in your child's success.
The Lakeland Institute for Learning is a clinical school for ESE and ELL students whose purpose is to deliver services to students within the educational setting in order to facilitate their overall health and well being and maximize their academic growth.
It is our mission to provide students the opportunity to become a knowledgeable and productive member of society, through language access within a career oriented environment developed to inspire special needs students and English Language Learners.
Providing a great educational environment for all students to learn.
Helping build up the youth for tomorrow with caring and competent staff.
Providing leadership and direction to all students to help guide students to a bright future.
Evaluating the needs, talents and potential of all students to ensure their needs are being met.
The Lakeland Institute for Learning (LIfL) is a school whose purpose is to deliver a rigorous curriculum for students who need a smaller classroom environment and extra support to fulfill their educational futures, hopes and dreams.
These students fall into two areas: special needs and those who are also English Language Learners (ESE) (as defined by law). The school is striving to deliver Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), Speech Language, and tutoring services to students within their school day, within a rigorous educational environment to facilitate academic growth into postsecondary opportunities.
Beginning in 2017 - 2018 school year, the Lakeland Institute for Learning began offering a career transition program for students grades 11 and above.
Eligible Students are coached through the PERT, a college placement test, and may enroll in a "wraparound" model in the Dual Enrollment program for no cost, except for books, at Polk State College. They may choose to begin earning college credits and/or through deferring graduation, they may complete their AA degree before graduating from high school. (ESE students may remain in school till they are 22 years old and retain their scholarship.)
The opportunity to attend Travis Technical College through Dual Enrollment, secondary programs or Career Academies is also available. Beginning in 2020, Travis is set to offer a modified curriculum for cognitively delayed students.
Social Skills is a primary need for many of our ESE students and is a requirement by Florida law. At LIfL, we begin the socialization process through our rendition of Sean Covey’s “Seven Habits for Effective Teens.”
Every morning, students meet with a homeroom teacher that leads them through the process of understanding the depth and breath behind the habits. In addition, all students receive an hour of social skills every other day that revolves around self, relationship, and social awareness enhancement, self management, responsibility, and decision making skills.
These are the Core CASEL social emotional competencies developed to promote mental health and reduce risk behaviors in children and adolescents. (C)2018 CASEL
The main thrust of clinical services is applied behavioral analysis. This service is implemented to promote students to perform academically. All staff are required to be trained in professional crisis management (PCM) and complete the 40-hour training module required for registered behavior technicians (RBT).
A Mental Health practitioner is offered on site. In addition, Speech Language Pathology services are currently offered through Polk County School District. Since clinical services meet students' physical or emotional needs, teachers are presented the opportunity to step up and apply more rigorous learning. The intensity of services and the articulation with educators also furthers the transfer and retention of both therapy and education.
The curriculum revolves around standards based learning based on the tested Florida State Standards (FSS) or the Access Points (AS) for students cognitively impaired. Standards based learning is important for our exceptional education students because it keeps them on track for high school graduation; although, LIfL students are not required to meet the Florida State Assessment requirements.
Since Reading is essential to learning across all curriculums, all students are initially tested in a small environment using an ESE reading program that has a proven track record to determine their strengths and weaknesses in basic skills such as phonics, and vocabulary and comprehension.
Certified English Language Arts teachers administer three (3) progress monitoring assessments (Norm Referenced Tests) throughout the school year. After each test, students access an individualized recommended lesson path to fill in their learning gaps to bring students up to grade level.
All students with average intelligence are taught English Language Arts in a small group environment, since maximum class size is ten (10) students, at their grade level. This encompasses a major component in writing skills, classical literature and novels, so they are not left behind to master elementary skills because of reading deficits. This is developed for students with skill gaps by scaffolding the curriculum.
Math is also tested initially through a long standing reputable program that sets up a recommended lesson path to fill in their skills deficits. A Master’s level math teacher facilitates this process and teaches the Florida State Standards appropriate for the students’ grade level.
Science follows the NGSS Standards and is infused with hands on activities every other week through a Legos based robotic activity. Students are scheduled into a Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) class every other day.
Social Studies, Civics, and US History also follow the NGSS Standards and students are exposed to authentic applications of how the world effects their everyday life. A few examples encompass activities mocking city, state or national elections. In addition, cross disciplinary research conducted through collaborative pairs on current affairs are delivered through power point presentations.
Career academies in both Culinary Arts and Technology are offered to all students based on the different grade levels, and functioning abilities.
Ready to meet the challenge head on.
What parent's say
Awesome school. My son finally "likes" going to school and actually tells us what he is learning.
Virginia Curtis Mom
Great school. Students learn at their own pace,fun invirment and the teachers are there to help the kids.
Deborah Jasper Mom
Awesome staff! We are so happy our daughter has a place she enjoys going to learn.
Happy Parent Dad
Non Discrimination Policy
The Lakeland Institute is committed to protecting its students, employees and applicants for admission from bullying, harassment, or discrimination for any reason and of any type. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, or age in employment, but grants all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available at the school. It believes that all individuals are entitled to a safe, equitable, and harassment free school environment.
LIFL's Adherence to the Florida Standards in Educational Ethics for our Board of Trustees, School site Administrators, Teachers and Support Personnel.
Lakeland Institute for Learning (LIfL) requires the highest standards of ethics for our entire learning community. Throughout LIfL’s manuals, including: Trustee Policies and Procedures, Staff, and the Parent and Student Handbook , the Florida Ethics in Education & Professional Conduct policy found here - http://www.fldoe.org/teaching/professional-practices/code-of-ethics-principles-of-professio.stml are strictly enforced.
All of our staff undergo a state and federal background check and are enrolled in a continual process with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which updates any improprieties on a daily basis. In addition, LIfL exceeds the requirements to participate in the FL School Choice Scholarship Programs.
For additional specific requirements see below:
Florida Code of Ethics & Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession: Learn More
Operating Requirements of Private School Requirements: Learn More
Abuse Report: Learn More
Florida Department of Education Misconduct & Abuse Requirements: Learn More
