For the 2026–27 school year, Empowered serves learners in Grades 1–8 through two program models.

Our Full-Time Learning Program serves learners in Grades 1–6, Monday through Thursday.

Our Hybrid Enrichment Program provides an afternoon learning option for learners in Grades 7–8.

Because Empowered is intentionally small, availability may vary by program and throughout the school year.

The Full-Time Learning Program is Empowered's primary educational program for Grades 1–6. Learners attend Monday through Thursday and participate in personalized Reading/ELA and Math mastery-based instruction as well as Connect, Collaborate, Create, movement, enrichment, and project-based learning experiences.

The Hybrid Enrichment Program serves Grades 7–8 during afternoon hours and is designed to complement a learner's existing homeschool or educational program through enrichment, collaboration, creative experiences, and community connection.

Both programs reflect the same Empowered philosophy: know the learner, identify strengths and needs, create meaningful goals, and provide room to grow.

There really isn't one single “typical” Empowered day—and that's intentional. ❤️

Our days have a predictable rhythm without requiring every learner to do exactly the same thing at exactly the same time.

A Full-Time Empowered Day generally includes:

• Connect — community building, social-emotional learning, executive-function skills, discussion, and reflection

• Conquer — personalized Reading/ELA and Math mastery-based learning based on each learner's current skills and goals

• Movement & Brain Breaks — opportunities to move, reset, regulate, create, build, or simply give the brain a change of pace

• Collaborate — science, social studies, STEM, projects, investigations, and shared learning experiences

• Create — art, writing, music enrichment, maker activities, creative exploration, and other enrichment opportunities

You might see one learner practicing phonics while another works above their “expected” grade level in math. A little later, those same learners may be building a magnetic vehicle, researching marine animals, constructing a marble run, experimenting with magnets, making art, or playing music together.

Personalization doesn't mean learning alone. It means learners receive what they need while remaining part of a learning community.

An Empowered Shadow Learning Day gives a prospective learner the opportunity to spend a real day in our learning community—learning, creating, exploring, participating, and getting to know Empowered for themselves.

It is not an academic test or audition, and participation does not guarantee enrollment.

Shadow Learning Days are opportunities for mutual discovery: the learner gets to experience Empowered, while the family and our team gain valuable information about whether our learning environment may be a good fit.

Because Empowered is a small, personalized community, Shadow Learning Days are offered thoughtfully and individually.

Families interested in a Shadow Learning Day can begin with our Shadow Learning Day Interest Survey on the Discover page.

Reading and Math instruction at Empowered is personalized and mastery-based.

We use assessment data, program performance, work samples, observation, conversations with learners, and ongoing progress monitoring to identify what each learner already understands and what they are ready to learn next.

Learners may use different tools or work at different levels even when they are the same chronological age or enrolled in the same grade.

Our current academic resources include programs such as Lexia Core5, Zearn Math, Treasure Hunt Reading, UFLI Foundations, Glyph Guild Spelling, Writer's Clubhouse, Writer’s Guild, Mystery Writing, and targeted skill-building activities, depending upon an individual learner's needs.

The goal isn't to keep a learner busy for a certain number of minutes.

The goal is growth and mastery.

When a learner demonstrates mastery, we move forward. When a learner needs additional instruction, practice, or another way of approaching a concept, we provide it.

Empowered does not rely on a single boxed curriculum or require every learner to move through the same program at the same pace.

We draw from a broad collection of high-quality instructional programs and resources available through our partnership with Prenda, along with Empowered-developed learning experiences, projects, enrichment, and individualized instructional supports.

Available resources include Lexia Core5 and PowerUp, Book Creator, Zearn Math, Khan Academy, Treasure Hunt Reading, Glyph Guild Spelling, CommonLit, Mystery Writing, Writer's Guild, Writer's Clubhouse, Writer's League, Generation Genius, Mystery Science, Class CrunchLabs, BrainPOP and BrainPOP Jr., Britannica School, World Book Online, Kids Discover, Fathom Reads, Book Creator, Code.org, Fiero Code, TypingClub, Canva, Duolingo, and additional Prenda learning resources.

The important part isn't how many programs we have access to—it's how we use them.

Curriculum is selected based on the learner, the skill being developed, demonstrated mastery, interests, and learning goals. A learner may need additional support in one area while working significantly above their expected grade level in another.

Our goal is to meet learners where they actually are and help them continue growing from there. ❤️

Empowered isn't designed to recreate a traditional classroom with fewer children.

Our small learning community allows us to build the educational experience around learners rather than grade-level pacing charts alone.

That means:

• personalized, mastery-based academic goals

• flexible pacing

• short, focused learning blocks

• small-group and individual support

• movement throughout the day

• learner choice and autonomy

• hands-on and project-based learning

• mixed-age collaboration

• intentional social-emotional learning

• real-world experiences beyond our campus

• room for curiosity, creativity, experimentation, and productive struggle

Learners can need support in one area and acceleration in another. We don't believe one score, grade level, diagnosis, or label tells us everything we need to know about a child.

We begin by recognizing something important:

Strengths and challenges can exist in the same learner at the same time.

A child may perform advanced mathematics while struggling to write a paragraph. Another may have extraordinary verbal reasoning but need explicit reading instruction. A learner may understand complex concepts while finding organization, attention, emotional regulation, or peer interaction difficult.

Rather than asking, “What grade level should this child be doing?” we also ask:

“What does this learner already know, what do they need, and what are they ready for next?”

Support may include flexible pacing, acceleration when appropriate, explicit skill instruction, smaller learning blocks, movement, visual or organizational supports, individual guidance, opportunities for deeper exploration, learner choice, and additional time when needed.

Formal gifted or 2e identification is not required for us to recognize and nurture a learner's strengths.

We believe meaningful academic growth is much more likely when learners feel known, safe, respected, and capable.

Because Empowered is intentionally small, Guides can get to know learners beyond academic scores: what motivates them, what frustrates them, what makes them laugh, where they shine, and where they need support.

Connect activities intentionally address skills such as communication, self-awareness, problem-solving, friendship, conflict resolution, accountability, emotional regulation, and self-advocacy.

Emotional safety does not mean an absence of expectations or challenges.

Learners are supported in taking responsibility for their choices, repairing relationships when necessary, developing new strategies, and learning that mistakes—academic and otherwise—can become opportunities for growth..

We don't view movement and creativity as rewards learners earn after “real learning” is finished.

They are part of learning.

Our learners have regular opportunities to move, build, create, experiment, collaborate, investigate, make music, work with their hands, and pursue ideas.

Brain Breaks are intentionally built into the Empowered Day because children aren't designed to remain seated and academically focused for hours at a time.

Sometimes a Brain Break means physical movement. Sometimes it's building a marble run, drawing, creating with materials, playing an instrument, or collaborating with another learner.

Create and Collaborate experiences extend that philosophy through STEM challenges, science investigations, art, writing, music, maker projects, baking, and other hands-on learning.

Empowered's small, mixed-age environment gives learners repeated opportunities to know one another as people—not simply as classmates assigned to the same grade.

Learners work independently, collaborate on projects, participate in Connect activities, eat and play together, solve problems together, experience Friday Field Adventures, celebrate successes, navigate disagreements, and practice being part of a community.

We don't expect friendships to be effortless. Social development is learning, too.

Guides support learners in developing communication, boundaries, conflict-resolution skills, empathy, accountability, and healthy ways of participating in a community.

Families are important partners in the Empowered learning process.

Communication may include individual conversations, progress information from learning programs and assessments, family conferences, photos and updates from our learning experiences, and direct communication when a learner needs additional support or celebration.

Our goal is not simply to report what a learner did.

We want families to understand how their learner is growing.

We also welcome family participation in selected community activities, Friday Field Adventures, service opportunities, celebrations, and other experiences throughout the year.

Because learning is personalized, we don't expect a new learner to walk through the door and immediately fit into a predetermined academic plan.

The first weeks are a period of connection, observation, assessment, and discovery.

We get to know the learner while reviewing available academic information, establishing baseline data, observing learning habits, identifying strengths and areas requiring support, introducing routines, and helping the learner become comfortable in our community.

From there, we develop and continually refine personalized academic goals and learning plans.

The goal isn't to determine how quickly a learner can “catch up” to Empowered.

Empowered adjusts to meet the learner where they are—and then helps them move forward.

Transitions look different for different children.

Some learners walk in ready to explore everything. Others need time to observe, build trust, learn routines, or become comfortable with a new group.

We intentionally maintain a small learning environment so that we can support those differences.

New learners are introduced gradually to our routines, learning tools, spaces, expectations, and community. Guides observe how they respond and make adjustments when appropriate.

We also encourage families considering Empowered to explore a Shadow Learning Day so that a child can experience an actual Empowered Day before a family makes an enrollment decision.

Fridays are different at Empowered. 💚

Our Monday–Thursday schedule provides our primary academic learning days. Fridays create opportunities to extend learning into the community through Friday Field Adventures.

Experiences may include museums, parks, science and cultural organizations, community events, service projects, recreation, nature exploration, collaborative gatherings with other learning communities, and other real-world experiences.

Some adventures have admission, activity, or transportation costs that are separate from tuition, and families receive information in advance.

Friday Field Adventures aren't simply “field trips.”

They are opportunities to explore, connect, serve, experience, and learn beyond our walls.

Enrichment isn't treated as something extra that only happens after academics are completed.

Music, STEM, art, maker experiences, creative projects, community service, special events, guest experiences, and collaborative opportunities are woven throughout the Empowered experience.

Some activities happen during the regular learning day, others during Extended-Day Enrichment, and still others through Friday Field Adventures or special community opportunities.

Not every experience happens every week—and that's part of the adventure.

We intentionally leave room for new opportunities, learner interests, community partnerships, and the occasional:

“Wait…what happens if we try THIS?” ❤️

Tuition supports the full Empowered learning experience, including:

• personalized, mastery-based Reading/ELA and Math learning

• curriculum and digital learning resources

• academic assessments and progress monitoring

• individualized goal setting and instructional support

• Connect social-emotional learning experiences

• Collaborate science, STEM, social studies, and project-based learning

• Create art, writing, maker, and enrichment experiences

• movement and intentional Brain Breaks

• small-group and mixed-age learning opportunities

• ongoing family communication

• Friday Field Adventure programming and planning

Families should plan separately for:

• a compatible learner Chromebook/laptop and charger

• lunch, snacks, and personal items

• occasional shared/community supplies when communicated in advance

• admission, activity, or transportation costs associated with certain Friday Field Adventures

Optional Extended-Day Enrichment is available for an additional fee.

Specific tuition, payment, scholarship, and enrollment information is provided to families as part of the enrollment process.

How is tuition billed?

Families enroll for the school year, and tuition obligations are outlined in the enrollment agreement.

Tuition for learners is administered by Prenda according to the applicable enrollment and payment schedule, including scholarship-funded arrangements when appropriate.

Because payment circumstances can vary by family and scholarship type, families receive the specific tuition amount, payment schedule, financial obligations, and withdrawal terms before enrollment is finalized.

Yes. 😊

Empowered G.O.A.L.S. Center works with eligible Florida families using PEP (Personalized Education Program) and FES-UA (Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities) scholarship funding.

Eligibility for these programs is determined by the applicable Florida scholarship program—not by Empowered—and funding amounts and allowable expenses can vary by learner and program.

Families are encouraged to verify their individual scholarship eligibility, funding, and reimbursement requirements.

Yes. 😊

Empowered is intentionally small.

Limited enrollment allows us to maintain the connected, relationship-centered learning environment that makes personalized education possible.

A small community gives Guides the opportunity to know learners well, monitor individual progress, provide targeted support, adjust learning when necessary, and preserve meaningful opportunities for collaboration and connection.

For that reason, enrollment is based not only on available space but also on whether Empowered appears to be an appropriate learning environment for the learner and family.

Our goal isn't to become the biggest learning community. It's to remain a community where learners can truly be known.

Yes.

Extended-Day Enrichment provides additional afternoon programming for Full-Time learners whose families would like an extended day.

Depending upon the day's schedule, experiences may include:

• music

• STEM

• art and maker activities

• creative projects

• baking and hands-on experiences

• collaborative games and activities

• movement and outdoor time

• independent creative exploration

• community-building experiences

Extended-Day Enrichment is intentionally more flexible than the core academic day and provides additional opportunities for learners to create, collaborate, explore interests, and spend time together.

It is available for an additional fee and is subject to program availability.

Empowered G.O.A.L.S. Center serves families in the Clearwater/Largo area of Pinellas County, Florida.

Our learning community operates from space located at Largo First Church of the Nazarene.

Empowered G.O.A.L.S. Center is an independently operated learning community and is not operated by or affiliated with the church.

Families receive appropriate arrival, pickup, and campus information during the inquiry and enrollment process.

Full-Time learners need a compatible Chromebook/laptop and charger for their personalized digital learning programs.

Technology is an important learning tool at Empowered—but learners do not spend the majority of their day sitting in front of a screen.

Digital programs are used intentionally for personalized, mastery-based Reading/ELA and Math instruction, research, writing, coding, and other learning experiences. Throughout the day, learners move between technology and books, handwriting, discussion, direct instruction, hands-on projects, experiments, creative work, collaborative learning, movement, outdoor experiences, and play.

Our goal isn't more screen time. It's to use technology where it provides a meaningful advantage—particularly when it allows each learner to work at the level and pace that are right for them—while preserving all the wonderfully human, messy, creative, active parts of learning. ❤️