The Florida Chamber Foundation has released a new policy research report advocating for the use of state median income as the eligibility measure for school readiness programs. The report aims to address several issues, including ensuring that all children in Florida are ready for kindergarten, improving reading proficiency among third graders, and reducing childhood poverty by half by 2030.
Currently, the School Readiness program in Florida is limited to families earning up to 150% of the Federal Poverty Level, which equates to $46,800 annually for a family of four. This threshold excludes many working families who are still struggling financially due to rising living costs. The report suggests shifting to State Median Income as an eligibility benchmark, potentially allowing more families access to child care tuition assistance.
Mark Wilson, President & CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Foundation, emphasized the importance of this shift: “Child care should not be an insurmountable barrier to employment. By aligning School Readiness eligibility with Floridians’ economic realities through State Median Income, we can help more parents remain in the workforce, reduce financial stress on families, and ensure our youngest learners receive valuable early education.”
Representative Fiona McFarland expressed her support for child care reform: “The question about child care and early learning isn’t whether the investment is righteous; it’s how we get there. Florida is leading the nation in low taxes and regulations, but we can do more to give the next generation the tools they need to succeed at every level of life.”
Research from the Florida Chamber Foundation's Business Alliance for Early Learning Project indicates that child care costs consume 20-30% of household incomes and exceed in-state college tuition by nearly $8,400 annually. By setting eligibility at 65% State Median Income, approximately 72,000 new families could become eligible for School Readiness. With historical uptake rates considered, it is estimated that 15,840 families would participate in the program and benefit around 27,500 children.
Makayla Buchanan, Director of Early Learning & Literacy for the Florida Chamber Foundation stated: “Expanding access to School Readiness is not just about helping families; it’s an investment in Florida’s economy.” She highlighted that shifting from 150% Federal Poverty Level to 65% State Median Income could result in a direct economic impact of about $1.3 billion — a $5.65 return on every dollar invested.
For further details on this initiative or support efforts to expand child care access in Florida, Makayla Buchanan can be contacted at mbuchanan@flchamber.com.