Florida Chamber Foundation Early Learning Report Finds More Than Half of Florida’s Youngest Learners Start Kindergarten Already Behind
Today, the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Business Alliance for Early Learning (BAEL) released its 2025-2026 Kindergarten Readiness Report, finding that 44% of Florida children entered kindergarten ready to learn in fall 2025, meaning more than half of Florida’s youngest learners are starting school already behind. The highest kindergarten readiness is in Pinellas County at 53%, and the lowest kindergarten readiness is in Jefferson County at 13%.
The report highlights why kindergarten readiness is a vital economic issue. As one of the strongest early indicators of third-grade reading proficiency, high school graduation, and future workforce success, kindergarten readiness plays a key role in strengthening Florida’s talent pipeline and achieving the Florida 2030 Blueprint goal of becoming a Top 10 global economy.
“Florida’s future workforce begins long before a student enters the job market. It begins before a child enters a kindergarten classroom,” said Mark Wilson, President & CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Florida Chamber Foundation. “When more than half of Florida’s children start school behind, it creates challenges that can follow them throughout their education and careers. Improving kindergarten readiness requires business, education, community, and policy leaders working together to ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed and Florida has the talent pipeline needed to remain globally competitive.”
“Florida’s talent pipeline begins years before a student enters the workforce, and if we fix early learning, we fix 1,000 other things,” said Corrie Melton, Vice President of Talent Development, Future of Work, Florida Chamber Foundation. “Strengthening kindergarten readiness is one of the smartest long-term investments Florida can make to secure its future workforce and economic competitiveness.”
The brand new analysis provides statewide and regional data, examines trends in early learning, and outlines opportunities to improve readiness outcomes across Florida.
Among its key findings:
- Just 44% of Florida children entered kindergarten ready in the Fall of 2025.
- Children who complete Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program are significantly more likely to be kindergarten-ready.
The Florida Department of Education’s decision to raise the kindergarten readiness standards reflects higher academic expectations and aligns with the skills students need for long-term success, and we applaud FDOE for raising their cut scores.
The findings reinforce the Florida Chamber Foundation’s goal of achieving 100% kindergarten readiness by 2030 through the Florida 2030 Blueprint. The Foundation encourages business leaders, policymakers, and community organizations to continue supporting evidence-based early learning strategies that strengthen Florida’s future workforce.
Click here to view the 2025-2026 Kindergarten Readiness Report.
To learn more about the Business Alliance for Early Learning, visit flchamber.com/florida-business-alliance-for-early-learning