TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – As Leon County Schools (LCS) partners with Head Start to move into five more elementary schools, district leaders are optimistic about the long-term success for students.
“Gaps can exist when a student hasn’t had any type of formal education setting and then they enter Kindergarten for the first time,” LCS Director of Early Learning Brooke Brunner said. “It’s really hard to play the catch-up game once a gap exists. So, we want to get in front of that gap and make sure that all of our Leon County Schools kids are ready and prepared.”
In August 2025, Brunner said the district started two pilot Head Start classes at Pineview Elementary. After seeing success, Brunner said they added a class last month.
Also in January, LCS signed leases for Head Start programs at Hartsfield Elementary and Sabal Palm Elementary, according to Brunner. Currently, the district is awaiting licensing from the Florida Department of Children and Families; however, Brunner expects those two programs to be operational before the end of the school year.
For the 2026-2027 school year, Head Start will expand to three more LCS elementary schools: Astoria Park, Fort Braden, and Sealey.
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“We have an opportunity to really set those foundational skills, more than just the academic piece, prior to the kindergarten year,” Brunner said. “If we can get that kindergarten readiness right, then we can really put students on the path forward to have a successful educational journey.”
According to data from the Florida Department of Education, roughly 75% of children who enter kindergarten behind will never catch up to their classmates. The department also reported that early childhood learning experiences can increase high school graduation rates.
That same data shows 64% of Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) students were considered “ready” for kindergarten in the fall of 2023.
“Prekindergarten isn’t just childcare. It’s not daycare. There’s a lot of academic instruction that goes on in a prekindergarten classroom,” Brunner said. “So, I really want to encourage our community to embrace that quality learning experience before a child enters kindergarten for the first time.”
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