The Early Learning Coalition of Osceola County has launched a new outreach campaign titled “More Than”, a three-month initiative aimed at transforming how the community views early childhood education. The campaign seeks to dispel the common misconception that child care centers are simply babysitting services, and instead highlights the critical role early learning programs play in setting children up for lifelong success.
“The early years are the most important years of a child’s life. The Early Learning Coalition of Osceola County is here to be a partner with families, working together to make sure that all children in our community have what they need to learn, grow, and reach their full potential.” – Amanda Kelkenberg, Early Learning Coalition of Osceola County, Chief Executive Officer
Through the campaign, the Coalition is raising awareness about the value of quality early learning environments, where children not only receive care but begin developing essential skills like early literacy, emotional regulation, socialization, and confidence.
The Coalition connects families to programs like Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK), which is free for 4-year-olds regardless of income, and the School Readiness (SR) Program, which offers financial assistance for quality child care. Both programs are designed to prepare children for kindergarten and beyond, and are available through more than 140 providers across Osceola County.
Educators across the county are seeing the benefits firsthand. Ivette Mendez, an early learning educator in Kissimmee, shared, “The skills that our students are leaving here with are so much more than ABCs and 123s. They are collaborating on projects at a higher skill level than most children their age. A lot of them are already reading—we even have one student who is reading at a first-grade level.”
With a focus on building strong foundations during a child’s earliest years, the “More Than” campaign emphasizes that child care is not just a service—it’s an opportunity. And with accessible resources and support, Osceola County families are encouraged to take the next step toward their children’s bright futures.
“The skills that our students are leaving here with are so much more than ABCs and 123s. They are collaborating on projects at a higher skill level than most children their age. They are able to blend words together, and a lot of them are reading. We have one of our early learning students who is already reading at a first-grade reading level, which I’m so proud of.” – Ivette Mendez, Early Learning Educator in Kissimmee.
For more information about the VPK and School Readiness programs, or to connect with a quality provider near you, visit the Early Learning Coalition of Osceola County.
