Escambia Co, FL: Only 36% of kids ready for kindergarten; $3.5M to address problem
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A new $3.5 million Escambia Children’s Trust initiative to tackle the county’s low kindergarten readiness rate received the go-ahead from the entity’s board of directors this week.
Children’s Trust board members unanimously approved the release of a request For proposals for Bright Beginnings, which is focused on school readiness for children from birth to age 6.
The RFP opened on July 15, and the goal is for programming to start Dec. 1 for the three-year initiative set to end in November 2029.
A majority of Escambia County 5-year-olds are not prepared for kindergarten.
According to the Florida Department of Health, Escambia County’s 2025 kindergarten readiness rate was 36%, down from 49.5% in 2024. The state's rate in 2025 was 44%, down from 51% in 2024.
Children’s Trust Executive Director Lindsey Cannon said Bright Beginnings will be a countywide prenatal to age 6 readiness network. The stage-based initiative will serve children from prenatal stages (conception-birth), infancy (0-12 months), toddlerhood (1-2 years old), early preschool (2-3 years old), preschool (3-4 years old), pre-K (4-5 years old) and kindergarten entry (5-6 years old).
Applicants can apply for funding for one or more of the stages, she said.
“Our goal overall is kindergarten readiness and healthy development,” Cannon said, adding that eligible nonprofits, government entities and qualifying for-profit organizations can apply for grants. The maximum grant award is $500,000 per year and the maximum allowable request is $5,000 per program participant. . . .
The Children’s Trust was approved by voters in 2020 and is responsible for allocating more than $10 million annually in property taxes to fund initiatives and services to help children and their families, especially those with the greatest need.
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