A collaborative educational network that connects students, families, academic institutions, community members, and local businesses in support of holistic, inclusive, and dynamic learning opportunities.
Education is the foundation for individual opportunity and long-term community success. Polk Vision works collaboratively with students, families, educators, businesses, and community partners to strengthen connections across the educational system and help ensure learners have access to the resources, experiences, and support they need to thrive.
of Polk kindergartners met developmental learning standards on entry for Fall 2025
(Source: FLDOE)
Polk County High school graduation rate, 2025–2026 school year
(Source: FLDOE)
FAFSA completion rate among 12th graders, up from 39.8% this time last year
(Source: FCAN)
Working-age residents holding a Bachelor’s degree or higher
(Source: Talent Strong Florida / Florida College Access Network, ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates)
Several high-level strategies have been prioritized to guide stakeholder decision-making and advance the community Vision for Education.
The Education Focus Area is led by Team Chairs and supported by dedicated volunteers serving on both the Literacy and Talent Pipeline teams. Team members from each group are listed below. Polk Vision also serves as Polk County’s Local College Access Network (LCAN), led by Education Collaborative Manager Amy Nickerson.
The Literacy LEADS Team is dedicated to promoting early literacy for children from birth through age five, recognizing that kindergarten readiness is a critical foundation for reading proficiency, high school graduation, and long-term college and career success.
A key initiative of the Team is the annual publication of the Literacy Resource Directory, the only comprehensive directory of literacy service providers in Polk County. The directory highlights a wide range of quality learning opportunities, including tutoring services, municipal recreation programs, after-school activities, libraries, and performing arts programs. Each year, the Literacy Team reviews and updates the directory, continuously expanding the list of providers and available resources to better serve families throughout the community.
Community outreach is a vital component of Polk Vision’s literacy efforts. By participating in community events across the county, Polk Vision connects directly with parents and caregivers, providing information about literacy resources, early learning programs, tutoring services, libraries, recreational opportunities, and other supports that help children build a strong foundation for success. These outreach efforts create meaningful opportunities for families to engage with organizations dedicated to early childhood development and education.
Only 38% of Polk County children entering Kindergarten came to school meeting the expected developmental learning standards.
Literacy extends far beyond academics—it is social, relational, and community-driven. Ensuring children develop strong literacy skills requires alignment among educational systems, early learning providers, families, and community partners. The Annual Literacy Summit serves as a forum for bringing these stakeholders together to network, learn from one another, and identify collaborative solutions that support early literacy success throughout Polk County.
Hosted by Polk Vision’s Literacy Team, the Summit provides research-based information, promising practices, and innovative strategies to strengthen early childhood literacy outcomes. Through expert presentations, community discussions, and partnership-building opportunities, attendees gain valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing young learners and their families.
Polk Vision’s Literacy Team is proud to contribute evidence-based content and meaningful learning experiences that support educators, caregivers, and community leaders in advancing literacy development. By fostering collaboration and shared responsibility, the Annual Literacy Summit helps build a stronger foundation for kindergarten readiness and lifelong learning success for Polk County’s children.
Literacy is more than learning to read and write—it is also learning to understand ourselves, connect with others, and make meaning of the world. When we feel supported, connected, and emotionally secure, we are better prepared to learn, grow, and thrive.
The 3rd Annual Literacy Summit was hosted by the City of Winter Haven at the AdventHealth Fieldhouse and Conference Center. Attendees connected and worked together to organize community events aimed at sharing literacy and language resources with families across Polk County.
As one of the fastest-growing regions in the nation, Polk County’s economy depends on a strong pipeline of skilled talent to meet the demands of existing and emerging industries. Through a partnership with the Central Florida Development Council (CFDC), the Polk Vision Talent Pipeline Team brings together educators, employers, workforce leaders, and community stakeholders to strengthen workforce readiness and economic prosperity across the county.
The Team is committed to developing a workforce that is well-trained, highly skilled, and equipped with industry-recognized credentials. Achieving this goal requires meaningful collaboration among K-12 education, postsecondary institutions, workforce organizations, alongside business and industry leaders to ensure educational pathways align with workforce needs.
Polk County is one of the fastest growing counties in the nation. Over the next decade it is projected that 65,866 new jobs will be needed to accommodate the expanding population.
Florida Commerce
Florida has taken significant steps to strengthen workforce education through the REACH Act (2021) and REACH Act 2.0 (Senate Bill 240, 2023). These legislative initiatives expanded opportunities for career and technical education, apprenticeships, and work-based learning experiences, positioning Florida as a national leader in workforce development.
In response to these opportunities, Polk Vision partners with CareerSource Polk to co-convene the Education and Industry Consortium. This collaborative group:
The Consortium brings together leaders from education, workforce development, government, and industry to ensure Polk County remains competitive in attracting and developing talent.
Polk Vision serves as the designated Local College Access Network (LCAN) for Polk County through its partnership with the Florida College Access Network (FCAN).
The Florida College Access Network (FCAN) partners with community leaders throughout Florida to ensure more students pursue and complete education beyond high school, creating stronger pathways to economic opportunity for Florida families and communities.
LCANs are community-based collaborations dedicated to increasing college and career readiness, improving postsecondary access, and supporting student completion rates. By connecting education, workforce, and community partners, these networks help students navigate pathways beyond high school.
Through the Talent Pipeline Team, Polk Vision works to strengthen partnerships between:
To further support student success, Polk Vision created Be The Future Be U, an online resource designed to help students identify career interests, explore educational pathways, and achieve their goals.
The platform also provides parents and caregivers with valuable information and resources to assist students as they prepare for college and careers.
Explore the resource: bethefuturebeu.com/career-insight →
As Polk County’s Local College Access Network, Polk Vision works closely with schools and community partners to increase student awareness of financial aid opportunities and the importance of completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Research consistently shows that students who complete the FAFSA are more likely to enroll in and complete postsecondary education. FAFSA completion opens access to:
For real-time updates on FAFSA Completion Rates by county, click here.
2024–2025 School Year
12th graders: 7,358
FAFSAs submitted: 3,219
FAFSAs completed: 3,046
2025–2026 School Year
12th graders: 7,859
FAFSAs submitted: 3,865
FAFSAs completed: 3,767
This significant increase demonstrates the impact of collaborative outreach efforts focused on helping students and families understand and access financial aid resources.
| Year | Polk County | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| 2025–2026 | 87.7% | 92.2% |
| 2023–2024 | 82.2% | 89.7% |
| Year | Polk County | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| 2023–2024 | 39.7% | 53.9% |
| 2022–2023 | 40.9% | 54.2% |
In 2019, Governor DeSantis signed HB 7071 into law — an ambitious goal for Florida to increase the percentage of adults holding high-value post-secondary degrees, technical trade certifications, or training experiences to 60% by 2030.
Working-age Polk residents (25–64) holding a high-quality degree — up from 28.6% in 2015, toward Florida’s 60%-by-2030 goal.
| Rank | County | Attainment Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Charlotte | 35.5% |
| 34 | Sumter | 34.0% |
| 35 | Polk | 34.3% |
| 36 | Hernando | 33.0% |
| 37 | Marion | 32.8% |
Talent Strong Florida / Florida College Access Network, ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates
