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Classroom materials designed to support early literacy and language development help prepare young children for kindergarten. | Monica Sedra, UnSplash
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Pam Craven, executive director of the Learning Resource Center (LRC), said many kindergarteners in Polk County often start school without basic skills.
Some don’t know their letters or sounds yet. Others struggle to follow directions or focus long enough to complete a task. Many children lack the basic vocabulary they build through everyday conversations and reading at home.
Only 38% of Polk County children were considered ready for kindergarten in 2024, according to data from The Florida Scorecard. Statewide, about 44% of Florida children met the readiness benchmark, showing many Polk students are starting school already behind.
Based on kindergarten enrollment figures provided by Polk County Public Schools, the district had 7,756 kindergartners in February 2026. If the readiness percentage from 2024 held steady, nearly 5,000 of those students could have started school behind.
To help close the gap, several programs across Polk County aim to help children develop early learning skills before entering kindergarten, including LRC’s Camp READY.
Assessing kindergarten readiness
Kindergarten-readiness statistics are based on results from the state’s Star Early Literacy Assessment given during the first weeks of school, said Lindsay Persohn, assistant professor of literacy studies at the University of South Florida and former kindergarten teacher.
“It’s a 27-question computer-based test that children take within the first 30 days of kindergarten,” Persohn said. “It can reflect academic skills, but it may also measure things like attention, comfort with a new school environment, and familiarity with testing.”
Children participate in a movement activity during Camp READY, combining physical activity with counting and classroom learning. | Courtesy Learning Resource Center
Educators say kindergarten readiness is closely tied to long-term academic success. Children who struggle with early literacy skills are more likely to have difficulty reading by third grade, a key benchmark often used to predict future academic outcomes.
Persohn said early language experiences are critical to building those skills.
“Literacy is everywhere,” she said. “Talking with children about what they see in the world — at the grocery store, in the park, or during everyday activities — helps build curiosity and vocabulary.”
Signs of kindergarten readiness
Persohn said conversations with Polk County kindergarten teachers show readiness often has less to do with academic skills and more to do with basic developmental abilities.
Teachers told researchers children are ready for kindergarten if they can:
Follow simple one-step directions
Manage basic self-care tasks, such as buttoning clothes or using the restroom independently
Show kindness and cooperate with other children
“The academic skills can be taught,” Persohn said. “What matters most is that children come into the classroom ready to participate in learning.”
Persohn said Polk County’s size and diversity can also influence readiness outcomes.
“Polk is geographically large and includes both urban and rural communities,” she said. “Access to resources and awareness of programs can vary depending on where families live.
She also noted that economic challenges such as housing or food insecurity can make it harder for families to focus on early learning opportunities.
Persohn said structured programs can help, but everyday interactions with children are equally important.
“Authentic conversations, storytelling, and reading aloud help children build vocabulary and understand how language works,” she said. “Those experiences create the foundation for later reading and learning.”
Programs trying to close the gap
To help families and educators find support, Polk Vision publishes a Literacy Resource Directory that lists programs and services across the county focused on early learning, tutoring, and literacy support. The directory connects families with resources available throughout Polk County, from preschool programs to community literacy initiatives.
These year-round programs focus on early childhood education before kindergarten begins, helping children develop language, social, and cognitive skills.
Camp READY, a summer program, targets the transition period just before kindergarten.
Camp READY builds a stronger foundation
Learning Resource Center founded Camp READY in 2006. It now runs the camp at several sites across Polk County, including locations in Lakeland, Winter Haven, Fort Meade, and Mulberry.
The program uses hands-on learning to help children build the skills they need before school starts.
Children participate in a cooking activity during Camp READY, where hands-on lessons introduce early math, vocabulary and teamwork skills. | Courtesy Learning Resource Center
Students rotate through four activity centers focused on:
Reading and early phonics
Art and creativity
Cooking activities that introduce math and vocabulary
Music and movement
The goal is to build language skills, confidence, and the ability to listen and follow directions in the classroom.
According to LRC data, children who attend the full program typically gain about four months of vocabulary development. The program uses a nationally recognized test called the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test to measure language and growth.
Reaching Polk families — and earning praise from parents
Each Camp READY site can serve about 40 students, and the organization hopes to reach up to 300 children this summer.
It costs about $25,000 to operate each camp site. This covers materials, snacks, assessments, and teacher salaries. Parents pay a $25 nonrefundable registration fee, and scholarships are available for those who need assistance.
“My child loved it and wanted to come every day,” one parent wrote in feedback collected by the Learning Resource Center.
Another parent said that the program helped reinforce her daughter’s skills she learned in Pre-K. “She loved all the fun things she did. All the workers were kind and helpful. She loved going every morning.”
How to register
Camp READY runs several 4-week sessions Monday through Thursday mornings during the summer.
More information is available at LRCPolk.com or by calling 863-688-9477.
Insight Polk examines community conditions and solutions in six target areas from UCIndicators.org: economic & employment opportunity, education, housing, food security, transportation & infrastructure, and quality of life.
LkldNow’s Insight Polk independent reporting is made possible by the United Community Indicators Project with funding by GiveWell Community Foundation & United Way of Central Florida. All editorial decisions are made by LkldNow.
Kayla Borg is a Lakeland native and graduate of Western Carolina University, where she earned her degree in English and film production. She began her media career in Atlanta at CNN, quickly rising from production assistant editor to technical director/editor, leading live broadcasts alongside field reporters. Since then, she’s worked in education, instructional design and independent filmmaking.
