UF Lastinger Center for Learning
The UF Lastinger Center for Learning is a University of Florida-affiliated nonprofit that develops and coordinates statewide literacy, tutoring, and professional learning programs for VPK-through-12th-grade educators and students across Florida and Massachusetts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersGainesville, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What UF Lastinger Center for Learning does
The UF Lastinger Center for Learning is a nonprofit educational research and development center operating within the University of Florida's College of Education in Gainesville, Florida. Founded in 2002, the Center employs approximately 204 staff alongside a broader network of 250+ associates, affiliate faculty, and advisory board members. Its mission is to enhance the quality of teaching and learning for learners from birth through 12th grade, operationalized through statewide initiatives, professional learning programs for educators, and partnerships with school districts across 43 Florida counties, with interstate extension into Massachusetts via the Early Childhood Support Organization (ECSO) Initiative (now in its sixth year).
The Center's product portfolio is anchored by three flagship brands: Lastinger Learning (the professional learning umbrella), New Worlds Reading (an early literacy initiative for VPK through fifth grade), and Florida Tutoring Advantage (a coordinator matching 24 vetted tutoring vendors with partner school districts for 2025-2026). Underlying these programs is a secure data infrastructure comprising Data Lagoon (a privacy-preserving research data platform) and the GADRRS data sharing agreement framework. A Learning Lab division pilots novel instructional technologies including New Worlds Reading AR Expeditions (augmented reality reading experiences), the Kibeam Wand pilot, and the Books & Cooks literacy-culinary program. The Center also co-hosts the annual international Leadership for Professional Learning (LfPL) Symposium, conducted annually since 2017, with the 2026 edition hosted at the University of Maine.
The Center's revenue model is built on government funding sourced from Florida state education appropriations and state-level initiatives, supplemented by interstate partnerships (notably the Massachusetts ECSO Initiative) and inter-institutional collaborations (including the PK Yonge Collaborative and Alachua County Schools). It does not transact directly with end consumers; instead it operates as an intermediary that develops, coordinates, and disseminates educational innovations to public-sector stakeholders. Scale is measured in trained educators (830+ in summer 2026), tutoring vendor partnerships (24 for 2025-2026), geographic reach (43 Florida counties plus Massachusetts), and headcount (~204 core plus 250+ affiliates), with no commercial pricing disclosed.
UF Lastinger Center for Learning firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- UF Lastinger Center for Learning
- Legal name
- UF Lastinger Center for Learning
- Website
- https://lastinger.center.ufl.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The UF Lastinger Center for Learning is a University of Florida-affiliated nonprofit that develops and coordinates statewide literacy, tutoring, and professional learning programs for VPK-through-12th-grade educators and students across Florida and Massachusetts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
UF Lastinger Center for Learning industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Educational Research and Professional Development Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Regional Education Service Agencies (ESAs/BOCES/Intermediate Units) (EDADABAC)
Keywords
Where UF Lastinger Center for Learning is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gainesville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
UF Lastinger Center for Learning business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- State-Funded Initiatives: The center receives funding through state initiatives including New Worlds Reading and Florida Tutoring Advantage programs administered through Florida state education funding
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
UF Lastinger Center for Learning product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The UF Lastinger Center for Learning is a university-affiliated non-profit educational research and development center within the University of Florida's College of Education. It develops and delivers professional learning programs for VPK through 5th grade educators, runs statewide literacy and tutoring initiatives (New Worlds Reading, Florida Tutoring Advantage), and operates secure data infrastructure (Data Lagoon, GADRRS) to support privacy-preserving educational research and interstate program replication such as the Massachusetts ECSO initiative.
Product overview
The UF Lastinger Center for Learning operates as an educational innovation organization with multiple branded programs and platforms. The core portfolio includes Lastinger Learning (professional development brand), New Worlds Reading (early literacy initiative), and Florida Tutoring Advantage (tutoring coordination platform). Supporting infrastructure includes Data Lagoon (secure data platform) and GADRRS Data Sharing for research data exchange. The Learning Lab develops experimental programs including AR-based learning experiences and technology pilots. The organization serves Florida's education ecosystem from birth through 12th grade through partnerships with educators, districts, and state initiatives.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Lastinger Learning: Educational innovation brand focused on helping teachers teach and students learn
- New Worlds Reading
- Florida Tutoring Advantage
- Data Lagoon
- Books & Cooks
- Kibeam Wand Pilot
- New Worlds Reading AR Expeditions
Products and services
- Professional Learning Programs Year-round professional development programs for VPK through 5th grade educators covering instructional strategies, literacy instruction, and keeping teaching skills current. Delivered through summer programs, symposiums, and ongoing training.
- New Worlds Reading Statewide early literacy initiative providing books, reading resources, and professional learning support to VPK through 5th grade educators, students, and families across Florida.
- Florida Tutoring Advantage Statewide coordination program that vets and matches tutoring vendors with Florida school districts to provide coordinated tutoring services for the academic year (e.g., 24 tutoring vendors for 2025-2026).
- Data Lagoon Secure data infrastructure platform that ensures student data privacy while accelerating educational research and development for partner organizations and researchers.
- GADRRS Data Sharing Framework Data sharing agreement framework enabling secure, interoperable data exchange for educational data collaboration between partner institutions and researchers.
- Massachusetts ECSO Initiative Early childhood support and professional development program delivered in partnership with the Massachusetts Early Childhood Support Organization, now in its sixth year serving program leaders across the state.
Quantifiable outcome
- 830+ educators trained from 43 Florida counties in summer programs
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use UF Lastinger Center for Learning
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
UF Lastinger Center for Learning technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
UF Lastinger Center for Learning partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- 24 Tutoring Vendors (Florida Tutoring Advantage)coreTutoring vendors partnering with Florida Tutoring Advantage for the 2025-2026 academic year to provide coordinated tutoring services across Florida school districts. The initiative matches vendors with districts to improve student outcomes.
- Massachusetts Early Childhood Support Organization (ECSO)corePartnership to deliver early childhood support and professional development programs. Now in its sixth year of meaningful contributions to early learning experiences for program leaders.
- Leadership for Professional Learning (LfPL) SymposiumcoreAnnual international symposium bringing together education professionals for leadership and professional learning. The center has co-hosted/co-developed this symposium since 2017, hosting the 2026 event at University of Maine.
- Lastinger LearningcoreAffiliated organization focused on learning innovation that shares branding and mission alignment with the UF Lastinger Center.
- New Worlds ReadingcoreStatewide reading initiative operated by the center providing books and reading support to Florida learners from birth through 5th grade.
- Florida Tutoring AdvantagecoreStatewide tutoring coordination initiative that matches vetted tutoring vendors with Florida school districts for the 2025-2026 academic year.
- PK Yonge CollaborativeminorUniversity of Florida's PK Yonge school partnership for tutoring sessions and educational innovation pilots.
- Alachua County SchoolsminorLocal school district partnership for professional learning programs and teacher training initiatives.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
UF Lastinger Center for Learning competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Khan Academy: Large-scale non-profit educational platform with broad K-12 reach. Khan Academy's free model and district partnerships compete for the same educator-attention budget as Lastinger's professional learning programs.
- RAND Corporation — Education Division: RAND conducts policy research across multiple domains including K-12 and higher education. While broader in scope, its education practice competes for the same state and federal research grants and produces comparable impact studies.
- Varsity Tutors: Established tutoring platform and one of the vendors potentially participating in Florida Tutoring Advantage. Operates at the commercial scale Lastinger's coordination platform serves as a vendor hub for.
Emerging players
- Newsela: Instructional content platform focused on literacy and reading instruction in K-12. Comparable to Learning Lab reading innovations such as AR Expeditions and the literacy programs under New Worlds Reading.
Direct peers
- WestEd: WestEd is a non-profit education research, development, and service agency that works with schools, districts, and states. Like the UF Lastinger Center, it delivers professional learning, state-level initiative coordination, and applied educational research across multiple U.S. states.
- American Institutes for Research (AIR): AIR is a non-profit behavioral and social science research organization with a major education practice serving districts, states, and federal agencies. Direct overlap in education R&D and state-level technical assistance.
- Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education (SCOPE): Stanford GSE-affiliated research center focused on educational opportunity, teacher development, and state policy. Directly comparable as a university-based education R&D center operating at the intersection of research and practice.
- SRI International — Education Division: SRI International conducts education research and development, including work on student data systems, learning technologies, and program evaluation. Comparable to Lastinger's research + applied program model.
- Regional Educational Laboratories (REL Network): Federally funded RELs provide research, training, and technical assistance to school districts across U.S. regions. Strong functional parallel to Lastinger's role coordinating evidence-based support across districts and counties.
- Reach Out and Read: National non-profit focused on early literacy through pediatric care partnerships. Operates statewide programs targeting birth through early-grade literacy, directly comparable to Lastinger's New Worlds Reading initiative.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
UF Lastinger Center for Learning social profiles
Digital presenceUF Lastinger Center for Learning financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
UF Lastinger Center for Learning leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
UF Lastinger Center for Learning funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
UF Lastinger Center for Learning M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about UF Lastinger Center for Learning
What does UF Lastinger Center for Learning do?
The UF Lastinger Center for Learning is a university-affiliated non-profit educational research and development center within the University of Florida's College of Education. It develops and delivers professional learning programs for VPK through 5th grade educators, runs statewide literacy and tutoring initiatives (New Worlds Reading, Florida Tutoring Advantage), and operates secure data infrastructure (Data Lagoon, GADRRS) to support privacy-preserving educational research and interstate program replication such as the Massachusetts ECSO initiative.
Is UF Lastinger Center for Learning a public or private company?
UF Lastinger Center for Learning is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was UF Lastinger Center for Learning founded?
UF Lastinger Center for Learning was founded in -1. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is UF Lastinger Center for Learning based?
UF Lastinger Center for Learning is headquartered in Gainesville, United States, in the North America region.
How does UF Lastinger Center for Learning make money?
One revenue line is on record: state-Funded Initiatives.
Who are UF Lastinger Center for Learning's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Khan Academy, RAND Corporation — Education Division and Varsity Tutors. Newsela is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are WestEd, American Institutes for Research (AIR), Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education (SCOPE), SRI International — Education Division, Regional Educational Laboratories (REL Network) and Reach Out and Read.
Does UF Lastinger Center for Learning have an API?
No public API is recorded for UF Lastinger Center for Learning.
What industry is UF Lastinger Center for Learning in?
UF Lastinger Center for Learning's product category is Educational Research and Professional Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADABAC, Regional Education Service Agencies (ESAs/BOCES/Intermediate Units). Its NAICS code is 61171 and its SIC code is 8200.