The School District of Osceola County, Florida and the Education Foundation of Osceola County joined forces with City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, and Osceola County Board of County Commissioners to launch Osceola Reads, a five-year reading initiative aimed at increasing children’s literacy rates county-wide. Aiming to reach young minds before they start kindergarten, and continuing to develop with them, Osceola Reads with Footsteps2Brilliance® ensures that local children have the tools necessary to learn to read. Currently only 13% of children in Osceola County are academically prepared for the first day of elementary school. Footsteps2Brilliance® is a transformative pre-K through 2nd grade literacy solution that utilizes mobile technology. Its innovative Mobile Technology Platform allows comprehensive literacy apps to be accessed online or offline from any mobile device or traditional computer. The interactive app digitally links home, school, and the community. Every child in Osceola County has access to this tool. Osceola Reads formally rolled out in February 2016. However, Osceola County parents whose children do not currently attend public school can sign up at www.OsceolaReads.com. For the latest information, parents can follow the initiative on social media on Twitter at @OsceolaReads and at @OsceolaReads on Instagram.