The Pensacola News Journal – Shannon Nickinson 
What does it mean to be ready for kindergarten? Most teachers agree on the basics: That a child can name at least seven colors; that a child knows the alphabet and the sounds that each letter makes; she can recognize and write her name; a child can share, take turns, follow directions and has the self-control to sit still for at least 10 minutes at a stretch. But when it comes to measuring how many children are ready for school, in Florida, the answer is murky — and ultimately too many children are left in the dark. The Florida Department of Education revamped the way kindergarten readiness is tested last year. Because of those changes, Escambia County appears to have made a nearly 24-point leap in readiness in two years — from 66 percent in 2014 to nearly 90 percent for 2016, based on preliminary data released to VPK providers.(more)