One of the most memorable days for a parent is when their little one starts their journey into their first day of Pre-K or kindergarten. For parents, knowing their child is ready to start school can be overwhelming. Preparing for school actually starts years before a child steps into a classroom. Studies show that 85-90% of brain development happens between birth and age four. Parents do all they can at home to help develop and support the emotional growth of their child. For many working parents, where both parents are employed full time and raising growing children, uncertainty arises if they are doing all they can to prepare.
Steve Knobl, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties, has witnessed this truth unfold in classrooms, campuses, and communities over a career spanning more than three decades. From first-grade teacher to high school principal to College Campus President, and the past decade back at the beginning with work in the birth to kindergarten space. He witnesses the same pattern repeatedly—young people arriving at each new stage unprepared, not because they lacked intelligence or potential, but because many never get the right start.
The Early Learning Coalition was officially designated as a nonprofit in 2005, one of 30 such organizations in the state of Florida. It now serves nearly 10,000 children daily in Pasco and Hernando Counties through the voluntary pre-kindergarten program and the school readiness subsidized program. But the Coalition’s impact goes far beyond these numbers. Its efforts reach into homes, classrooms, and neighborhoods, equipping not just children but parents, teachers, and caregivers with the tools and confidence they need to help young learners thrive.
“Our focus is threefold,” said Knobl. “We support children and families, we support our providers, and we connect with the community.” That support often starts with small things that can make a big difference—resources like books, parenting workshops, teacher training and coaching, and simple strategies to turn everyday moments into learning opportunities. Through the START initiative, which launched during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coalition began offering virtual parenting cohorts that bring together groups of families for guided sessions focused on child development, communication, and home learning strategies. In many cases, multiple generations of a family attend together, even across state lines. “We’ve had grandparents in Georgia log in to join their daughters in Pasco County. It creates this shared experience and reinforces that parenting doesn’t have to be isolating or scary,” explained Knobl.
Literacy is a particularly urgent area of focus. In some low-income areas, studies have shown there may be as few as two or three age-appropriate books in a child’s home. To help close that gap, the Coalition creates and distributes free book bundles at events and community gatherings. “It may seem small, but it matters,” shared Knobl. “Songs, rhymes, reading together—these are the foundations of learning and children should be enjoying the exploration and process of learning.”
The Coalition also provides professional development and classroom support for more than 300 early learning programs in the two counties. When a child isn’t meeting expected milestones, the organization’s developmental services team steps in to observe, offer strategies, and work with teachers and families to identify the best path forward. Many of the educators in these classrooms are young themselves, so the Coalition provides free training and materials to help them build the skills needed to guide young children through critical early years.
While the work is grounded in educational best practices, the mission is straightforward: ensure every child in Pasco and Hernando has a fair chance. “We want children walking into kindergarten feeling confident, engaged, and prepared to learn and grow,” said Knobl. “It shouldn’t matter what zip code they live in. Every child deserves the chance to start on equal footing.”
Awareness remains one of the Coalition’s biggest challenges. Many families new to the area don’t know that free and low-cost early childhood programs are available. Others aren’t sure where to start. That’s where the community can help. “Just share that we’re here,” explained Knobl. “Share our website, social media channels, tell a friend about us, let families know there’s support available—because everything we offer is free, and everything we do is helping children grow to their potential.” To learn more, explore resources, or find out how to get involved, visit www.elcph.org.
“Every child deserves the chance to start on equal footing.”
“It may seem small, but it matters.”