At INK!, we believe that community investment changes lives. Thanks to Florida’s School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program, local community investments go even further.
This school year, the State of Florida through the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations awarded INK! $119,450.60 in state matching funds to support INK! programs benefiting our students and teachers. Combined with more than $160,000 in local donations and grants, these dollars supported two of INK!’s longest-running and most impactful programs: Five Learning Years (FLY) and Tools 4 Schools.
It’s a powerful example of what happens when government, businesses, foundations, and individual donors work together to invest in public education.
Two Programs. One Mission.
While FLY and Tools 4 Schools serve different audiences, they share the same goal: ensuring every public school student in St. Johns County has the opportunity to succeed.
Five Learning Years (FLY)
Learning to read is one of the most important milestones in a child’s education. Students who struggle with reading in the early grades often face challenges that continue throughout their academic careers.
For more than 11 years, INK! has partnered with the St. Johns County School District to provide targeted early literacy intervention through the FLY program. Working collaboratively with classroom teachers and school teams, FLY helps Pre-K, Kindergarten, and first-grade students develop foundational reading skills, close literacy gaps, and build the confidence needed for long-term academic success.
During the 2025–2026 school year, the FLY program:
- Served 334 students – in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade
- Pre-kindergarten students – 90 students began the school year with an average 56% literacy gap compared to their peers. After FLY intervention, the literacy gap was reduced to 0%.
- Kindergarten: 140 students began with average literacy gaps of:
o Letter identification: 114% gap reduced to 6% after intervention
o Letter sound: 280% gap reduced to 4% after intervention
o Phonological Awareness Screening Test (P.A.S.T.): 68% gap reduced to 7% after intervention - First grade: 104 students participated in the FLY program with 85 reading at a pre-kindergarten or low-kindergarten level. After intervention, only 16 students (15%) remained reading below first-grade level, while 88 students (85%) were reading at the first-grade level or above by the end of the school year.
Every child who discovers the joy of reading gains more than a new skill, they gain confidence, independence, and a stronger path toward future success.
Tools 4 Schools
Teachers should be focused on teaching, not worrying about whether their students have the classroom supplies they need to succeed.
For more than 15 years, Tools 4 Schools has provided St. Johns County teachers with free classroom materials that help reduce their out-of-pocket expenses while ensuring students have the tools they need to learn.
During the 2025–2026 school year alone, the program:
- Delivered 2,620 classroom supply orders
- Served 950+ teachers
- Reached all 50 public schools in St. Johns County
- Provided more than $143,000 in classroom supplies to teachers and students
Beyond the numbers, teachers reported that the program made teaching more sustainable, increased their effectiveness in the classroom, and expanded students’ access to essential learning materials. When educators have the resources they need, they can spend less time worrying about supplies and more time inspiring students.
Why the Matching Grant Matters
The School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program was created with a simple but powerful idea: encourage local communities to invest in public education by matching those dollars with state funding.
Every local donation made to support eligible programs helps unlock additional state resources, multiplying the impact of community generosity. That means donors are not simply funding one classroom or one student, they are helping create a partnership that brings even more resources into St. Johns County schools.
Across Florida, the program has generated more than $173 million in combined state and private investment, supporting literacy initiatives, classroom innovation, STEM education, teacher support, career and technical education, and student achievement. Last year alone, 109 projects in 60 school districts were funded, serving 99% of Florida’s K-12 public school students.
Thank You for Investing in Kids
We are grateful to the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, Governor Ron DeSantis, Senate President Albritton, House Speaker Perez, the Florida Legislature, and our many local donors, businesses, and foundation partners who make this investment possible.
Most importantly, we thank our community. Every donation, school supply, volunteer hour, and partnership contributes to something much larger than a single program. Together, we are helping young readers build strong foundations, giving teachers the resources they deserve, and ensuring students across St. Johns County have every opportunity to thrive.
Because when state support and community generosity come together, the impact reaches every classroom.
