Bezos Academy Coming to Boca Raton Campus

This week, the Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees approved a mutually beneficial 10-year facilities use agreement with the Bezos Academy, a not-for-profit, tuition-free, Montessori-inspired preschool that supports underserved communities and families living below the federal poverty level. FAU will be the first university in Florida to host the academy, and only second in the nation.

The preschool, which is scheduled to open in the fall of 2022, will be housed in the former Karen A. Slattery Educational Research Center for Child Development on the Boca Raton campus. There, the Bezos Academy will fully operate the facility at its expense and will be responsible for all aspects of the operation.

As an advantage to the FAU community, the Bezos Academy will reserve 20 percent of available slots in each entering class for children whose parents or legal guardians are full-time FAU students, faculty or staff, and who otherwise meet the program’s income qualifications. Additionally, FAU will reserve 20 percent of available slots in each entering kindergarten class at A.D. Henderson University School for children who meet the minimum qualifications and who attend the Bezos Academy.

Beyond these benefits for families, we also envision a partnership between the Bezos Academy and the College of Education, in which FAU students and faculty gain additional opportunities such as internships and field training.

In alignment with FAU’s goal to increase access to education, the Bezos Academy will provide all instruction, materials, supplies, activities and operating expenses for the program at no expense to the families they serve. This includes multiple nutritious meals and healthy snacks provided to students throughout the day, also at no cost to their families.

This is an exciting new endeavor for FAU, and I look forward to welcoming the Bezos Academy to the Boca Raton campus.