Osceola families have a new tool to help prepare their young children for school. The Early Learning Coalition of Osceola County launched its “Read to Rise” family literacy program Friday at Hart Memorial Library, offering free learning kits packed with activities in English and Spanish.
The launch featured book readings, a scavenger hunt, prize giveaways, and special guests including Spiderman and a live alligator, drawing families into early learning through play.
“Read to Rise” kits can be checked out from the library for four weeks at a time. The kits include fun, hands-on activities in English and Spanish that help develop letter identification, beginning sounds, rhyming, vocabulary, sight words, word building, syllables, and retelling. Families can complete activities and surveys to earn opportunities for prizes, including Wild Florida admission tickets.
The program comes as Osceola County continues to face challenges with kindergarten readiness. Only 39% of Osceola students tested ready for school upon entering kindergarten in 2025—the lowest in eight years—according to the Florida Department of Education. The ELC of Osceola hopes to help bridge the gaps through programs like “Read to Rise,” Early Learning Hubs, and Osceola Reads.
“We’re hoping to get some of the skill building for letter sounds and sight words and letter recognition in the hands of families,” said Amanda Kelkenberg, chief executive officer of ELC of Osceola. “Learning educators are really important, but there’s nothing more important than moms and dads and grandparents and caregivers in the home with young children.”
The pilot program was developed in partnership with the Osceola Library System, Experience Kissimmee, and Wild Florida, and will be available at Hart Memorial Library for the next three months before it expands to other county libraries.
