ReadyKids! is celebrating an exciting year of growth at Brentwood Elementary School after launching its ReadingPals program at the school for the first time, thanks to support from Escambia Children’s Trust and its C.A.R.E.s (Community, Access, Resilience, and Empowerment) grant.
The results from Brentwood’s Pre-K students tell a powerful story about what can happen when children receive meaningful support during their earliest learning years.
At the beginning of the school year, only two students met the state benchmark for kindergarten readiness. By the end of the year, 20 of the 29 participating students reached or exceeded that benchmark – a dramatic increase that reflects what is possible when a child has someone consistently in their corner who builds trust, offers encouragement, and helps them discover the joy of learning.
Growth was seen across the board. Every child who completed both beginning- and end-of-year assessments improved their scores, with many students making extraordinary gains throughout the year. 24 students increased by at least 30 points, while 10 students improved by more than 100 points.
But the progress extended far beyond assessment scores.
Teachers and program staff observed meaningful growth in students’ confidence, independence, social-emotional development, and classroom engagement. Students showed stronger communication skills, improved peer interactions, and increased enthusiasm for literacy-based learning and structured activities.
“These outcomes represent so much more than numbers,” said Daphne Hulion, Program & Volunteer Coordinator. “They represent children gaining confidence, building relationships, and entering kindergarten more prepared to succeed. We are deeply grateful to Escambia Children’s Trust for investing in children and helping create opportunities that will have a lasting impact on our community.”
The success of the ReadingPals program at Brentwood Elementary highlights the importance of early intervention, strong community partnerships, and continued investment in programs that support children during their most critical years of development.
To learn more about ReadingPals or to get involved as a volunteer, visit www.ReadyKidsFL.org.
ReadyKids! is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a leader in the early literacy space for prekindergarten students in Escambia County. ReadyKids! focuses on mentoring students in a 1:1 setting, engaging families as their child’s first and best teacher, and supporting educators – all to maximize children’s potential through increased school readiness. Learn more at ReadyKidsFL.org.
