The School District of Palm Beach County to Host Tuition-Free Bezos Academy Preschool
WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. (Aug. 3, 2023) – The School Board of the School District of Palm Beach County approved a Facilities Use Agreement with Bezos Academy on August 2, paving the way for a new tuition-free, Montessori-inspired preschool at Roosevelt Elementary School in West Palm Beach. The approval is the result of collaborative efforts between the District, the City of West Palm Beach, and the Frisbie Group, LLC, a private real estate investment firm based in Palm Beach.
“This innovative academy will give our preschool students a strong start,” Superintendent Mike Burke said. “Bezos Academy at Roosevelt Elementary builds on an essential component of our District’s Strategic Plan, and it gives us the chance to deepen and scale the student-centered approach already in place from pre-K to second grade.”
Designed to support low-income families, the preschool will offer year-round programming, five days a week for children between the ages of 3 and 5. Bezos Academy’s classes are offered at no cost to the District or the families being served. The organization provides everything that children need during the day, including meals, educational materials, and field trips. The preschool will have space for 100 students.
“I am extremely pleased that the School District and Bezos Academy have embarked on this public-private partnership,” said District 7 Board Member Edwin Ferguson, Esq. “I have no doubt that our young scholars will benefit immensely from attending Bezos Academy.”
“Bezos Academy is known for its exceptional educational curriculum that focuses on the whole child and utilizes the power of experiential learning and purposeful play. Offering this new, sophisticated preschool education program will help nurture the potential in our children.”
- Nancy Bourne
Nancy Bourne, head of Frisbie Group’s 21st century educational initiatives, led the Frisbie Group’s joint effort, along with the District and the City of West Palm Beach, to bring the Academy to the City.
“Bezos Academy will help build high-quality early childhood education for free, to those who need it most, strengthening our partnership with educators and the community,” said Keith A. James, the Mayor of West Palm Beach.
“Our guiding philosophy of leading with our hearts to do what’s right for the community has propelled the City and the District toward a cooperative effort with Bezos Academy. We’re pleased we could facilitate a partnership in West Palm Beach that will promote quite a positive change in the coming years.”
- Dave Frisbie
“Too many families struggle to find preschool options for their children – either because of the cost, or because of limited availability,” said Mike George, President of Bezos Academy. “Thanks to the efforts of the School District of Palm Beach County, the City of West Palm Beach, and the Frisbie Group, families of West Palm Beach will have access to the incredible benefits that high-quality preschool can provide, at no cost to them or their community.”
The preschool, Bezos Academy West Palm Beach – Roosevelt, will be located at 1220 15th Street in West Palm Beach. The school will feature five classrooms. Renovations are set to begin later this year, and information about the opening date will be shared here.
Families earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level with children ages 3-4 are eligible to apply. Once the school opening date is set, more information and an application for the lottery-based selection process will be posted at www.bezosacademy.org.
About Bezos Academy
Bezos Academy is a non-profit organization that is building a network of fully-funded tuition-free preschools. Our preschools offer year-round, full-day programming, five days a week, for children ages 3-5 years old from low-income families. Bezos Academy also provides students with all necessary educational supplies and services to set each student up for success, including Montessori materials, books, ary
ts and crafts, field trips, and meals. As of June 2023, we have 16 schools operating across Washington, Texas, and Florida, and 12 additional agreements in the works to open locations in these states, as well as in Kentucky and Arizona. For more information, visit www.bezosacademy.org.
About the School District of Palm Beach County
The School District of Palm Beach County is the 10th largest in the nation and the fifth largest in the State of Florida serving more than 189,000 students who speak 150 languages and dialects. As the largest employer in Palm Beach County, the School District has 22,891 employees, including more than 12,786 teachers.
The mission of the School District of Palm Beach County is to educate, affirm, and inspire each student in an equity-embedded school system.