Less Than Half of Florida Kindergarteners Meet Readiness Benchmarks, Report Finds

According to the Early Learning Report issued by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, just 44% of children beginning kindergarten in the 2025-2026 school year were deemed ready to learn. Participation in Florida’s Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program emerged as a strong predictor of preparedness, with enrolled students significantly more likely to meet readiness criteria. The analysis highlights that 75% of children who start kindergarten behind their peers never close the gap, which correlates with lower reading proficiency by third grade and reduced on-time graduation rates.

County-level data revealed a stark divide, as St. Johns, Sarasota, Pinellas, Brevard and Martin approached 60% readiness, while Jefferson recorded only 13% and several other counties lagged below 20%. Even within high-performing counties, economic disparities produced sharp contrasts in readiness rates. The report urges policymakers and business leaders to broaden access to high-quality early child care, expand the School Readiness Program’s tuition assistance, and offer grants to improve instructional quality.