County By The Numbers – The Florida Gap Map Shows Orange County has 6,432 Third Graders Not Reading at Grade Level and 62,427 Kids Living in Poverty
The graphic above displays the performance of Orange County as showcased on The Florida Gap Map. The “Children in Poverty” Florida Scorecard tile is also included to provide additional context into Hillsborough’s prosperity performance.
The Florida Equality of Opportunity Initiative is on a mission to secure the future of all Floridians with its three projects, starting with our youngest residents. As an extension of the Initiative’s efforts, The Florida Gap Map is raising awareness to thousands of Florida’s business leaders about the number of third grade readers and children living in poverty in their communities, so that they can take action. It is the mission of the Florida Equality of Opportunity Initiative’s Florida Business Alliance for Early Learning Project to ensure 100% of third graders are reading at or above grade level by 2030 and the Florida Prosperity Project to cut childhood poverty in half by 2030 – under the strategic direction of the Florida 2030 Blueprint. Our youngest Floridians are tomorrow’s workforce. We must continue to unite as business community to eliminate barriers to prosperity to secure Florida’s future.
The business community in Orange County has stepped up in a big way to support an equal opportunity for all. For example, the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation has donated $26 million since its inception to support more than 2 million children throughout the community. Business leader John River, of 4Rivers, started 4Roots to bring healthy, thriving, and sustainable food systems to communities of need. And countless other examples exist.
Visit TheFloridaGapMap.org to check out more analysis for Orange County and be sure to search for your specific county as well. The Map allows you to narrow down to the zip codes and elementary schools that need attention the most in your neighborhood. Please contact Kyle Baltuch, SVP of Equality of Opportunity, at kbaltuch@flchamber.com, for information on how you can get involved with closing the gaps in your neighborhood or bring light to an effort that is already having an impact.