Brevard County has earned statewide recognition as one of Florida’s top-performing counties for kindergarten readiness, ranking 4th in the state, according to Florida’s 2025–2026 Kindergarten Readiness Report by The Florida Chamber Foundation’s Florida Business Alliance for Early Learning.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Brevard County has earned statewide recognition as one of Florida’s top-performing counties for kindergarten readiness, ranking 4th in the state, according to Florida’s 2025–2026 Kindergarten Readiness Report by The Florida Chamber Foundation’s Florida Business Alliance for Early Learning.
The report found that 52% of Brevard County children entered kindergarten ready to learn, placing the county among Florida’s five highest-performing communities for early learning outcomes.
Statewide, just 44% of children entered kindergarten with the foundational skills needed for success, highlighting Brevard’s leadership in preparing young learners for school.
The report says 75% of Florida children who enter kindergarten unprepared never catch up with their peers.
“This recognition reflects the incredible collaboration happening throughout Brevard County,” said Laura Gambino, Chief Executive Officer of the Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County.
“Parents, VPK providers, educators and local leaders all play a vital role in ensuring our youngest learners have the strong foundation they need to thrive in school and beyond.”
“This recognition reflects the incredible collaboration happening throughout Brevard County,” said Laura Gambino, Chief Executive Officer of the Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County.
The report also reinforces an important message: kindergarten readiness is built long before age four and extends beyond any single program.
While Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program is an important piece of the puzzle, with children who complete VPK significantly more likely to be ready for kindergarten, the report also notes that Data from the Sunshine Portal says there are several key contextual factors tied to kindergarten readiness.
Some examples include participation in Florida’s School Readiness program (child care tuition assistance), household SNAP enrollment, and maternal education levels. Together, these factors paint a fuller picture of the opportunities and barriers children face before entering kindergarten.
While celebrating Brevard’s Top 5 ranking, there is still work to do. Every child deserves the opportunity to begin kindergarten confident and prepared. Research consistently shows that children who begin kindergarten ready to learn are more likely to read proficiently by third grade, graduate from high school, pursue postsecondary education, and contribute to a strong workforce and economy.
Read the full report Florida’s 2025-2026 Kindergarten Readiness Report (The Florida Chamber Foundation’s Florida Business Alliance for Early Learning): https://tinyurl.com/b8ps4hkh
Have questions about VPK (Florida’s FREE Voluntary Prekindergarten) in Brevard County? Call The Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County: 321-637-1800 or visit www.elcbrevard.org
