A new initiative is showing promise as a way to help teachers prepare Palm Beach County children for the growing rigors of kindergarten.

Why it matters: Children who enter kindergarten ready to learn are more likely to read proficiently by third grade . But if they fall behind, the odds are against them catching up to their classmates.

Stunning stat: State testing found that kindergarten readiness in Palm Beach County rose from 66% in 2022-23 to over 72% in the last school year — a six-point gain.

The improvement is one of the most significant gains documented in Florida’s free and voluntary prekindergarten (VPK) system.

The achievement is featured in the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s 2024–25 Kindergarten Readiness Report , which highlights Palm Beach County as a case study

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