Lakeland Chamber of Commerce Hosts All In for Early Learning Day; Adopts Resolution

On Monday, January 26, 2026, the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce joined communities across Florida to participate in All In for Early Learning Day: a statewide initiative powered by The Children’s Movement of Florida, convening parents, educators, business leaders, local officials, and community partners to highlight the importance of high-quality early learning programs for all Florida children.

“The first five years build the foundation for school success, career readiness, and lifelong health,” said Madeleine Thakur, President & CEO of The Children’s Movement of Florida, in a recorded statement. “Early learning strengthens families, supports today’s workforce, and builds tomorrow’s talent pipeline.”

90% of the brain develops before age five, providing a foundation for all future learning, behavior, and health (Center, n.d.). “What children experience during this time shapes everything that comes next—their confidence, their curiosity, their language development, their ability to form relationships, and their readiness for school,” said Sarah Vespa, General Counsel for GMF Steel Group and a Vice Chair of the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. “Early learning also strengthens our community. It helps parents work, supports local employers, and builds the future workforce our businesses will rely on… when communities invest in early learning, they see returns in health, education, workforce stability, and long-term economic growth.”

Strong early learning experiences help children show up to kindergarten ready to learn, confident, curious, and on track. In Polk County, only 38% of students are considered “kindergarten ready” by state standards, falling below the state average of 44% (Florida Department of Education, n.d.). Readiness is currently measured by the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) Star Early Literacy assessment, a 20-minute, 27-question exam administered within the first 30 days of kindergarten for all kindergarten students (Florida Department of Education, 2025). Yet research by the Early Learning Coalition of Polk County uncovered additional definitions of kindergarten readiness: self-readiness, the ability to follow directions, and kindness. “If children walk into the classroom ready to treat each other with care and empathy, everything else becomes teachable,” according to ELC CEO, Dr. Marc Hutek (Reynolds, 2025).

Parents, educators, business leaders, local officials, and community partners joined together for All In for Early Learning Day in Lakeland to highlight the importance of high-quality early learning programs for all Florida children.

Ric Banciella, Director of Business Engagement for The Children’s Movement of Florida and head of the Bosses for Babies initiative, joined the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce for All In for Early Learning Day. Banciella delivered a message to community leaders, emphasizing access to high-quality, affordable early education programs as a core workforce issue. He highlighted the critical role businesses play in bridging gaps between the workplace and new parents. Mayor Sara Roberts McCarley followed with remarks on the state of early learning in Lakeland and a reflection on the role employer flexibility played in her professional career while balancing the responsibilities of motherhood.

Access to affordable childcare creates an added layer of complexity for working parents. Families in Polk County spend up to 18% of their income on childcare, and employers consistently cite childcare access as a top workforce challenge affecting retention and recruitment. A recent report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in partnership with the Florida Chamber Foundation estimates nearly $5.4 billion dollars in economic value is lost annually due to working parents having to be away from their jobs while caring for children under the age of six (Florida Chamber, 2023).

Childcare and early learning successes & challenges impact all areas of the Lakeland Chamber’s Accelerate 2030 Strategic Plan, as access to high-quality childcare and early learning is both a present and future priority for the business community. The Lakeland Chamber Board of Directors, led by 2026 Board Chair Par Sahota of Boring Business Systems, convened during All In for Early Learning Day to adopt a resolution recognizing January 26, 2026, as “Florida Early Learning Day.” The resolution may be viewed below.

Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document.

About the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce
The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce serves as the Catalyst for business success, Convener of leaders and influencers, and Champion for our thriving community. Its vision is to be the premier catalyst for the advancement of Lakeland’s economic growth and enhancement of quality of life.

About The Children's Movement of Florida
The Children's Movement of Florida is the state's leading voice on early childhood: championing policies and investments for high-quality early learning opportunities, health care access, and parent support. For more information, visit www.childrensmovementflorida.org.

Citations
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (n.d.). Brain architecture. Retrieved January 26, 2026, from https://developingchild.harvard.edu/key-concept/brain-architecture/

Florida Chamber Foundation & U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. (2023). Untapped Potential in FL: How Florida’s childcare crisis is impacting early learning, workforce productivity, and Florida’s economy [Online flipbook]. Retrieved January 26, 2026, from https://www.flipsnack.com/flchamber/untapped-potential-in-fl/full-view.html

Florida Department of Education. (2025). 2025–26 Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) K–2 fact sheet [PDF]. Retrieved January 26, 2026, from https://www.fldoe.org/file/20102/2526FASTK2FS.pdf

Florida Department of Education. (n.d.). Kindergarten Readiness. Retrieved January 26, 2026, from https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k-12-studen0074-assessment/best/k-ready.stml

Reynolds, L. (2025, November 26). Planting seeds of kindness: A new chapter of kindergarten readiness for the Early Learning Coalition of Polk County, FL. Highlights Early Learning. Retrieved January 26, 2026, from https://earlylearning.highlights.com/blogs/the-confident-classroom/planting-seeds-of-kindness-floridas-elc-polk-county-begins-a-new-chapter-in-kindergarten-readiness?srsltid=AfmBOoo6VxS1Mf1_615SkqL3Xc0eIHt3a5FjR_3l0l_G-OSPSGqbEwF