Early Learning

The latest brain science clearly shows the importance of early learning. Baby with big eyes

• Early learning begins at day one.
• Eighty-five percent of brain growth occurs before the age of 3.
• The gap between children with broad exposure to educational experiences at an early age and
children who do not have those opportunities appears as early as 18 months.
• Thirty percent of Florida’s children start school behind and most get even further behind.
• If 100 children do not really know how to read at the end of first grade, 88 will still not really know
how to read when they leave fourth grade.

Early learning is the critical period from birth to about 5 when the brain develops most rapidly and children are building a foundation for learning that will last for life.

Whether you are a parent, grandparent or guardian trying to find out about enrolling a child in VPK or school readiness; a teacher or child care worker looking for research on child development; or an administrator or early learning advocate trying to locate resources, we hope you will find what you need here.

If you can’t find what you are looking for, let us know.