Brayson Smith talks with Aaliyah Gundy while working on numbers in La’Tris Sykes kindergarten class at Lincoln
Park Elementary School Thursday, Sept. 23, 2015.(Michael Spooneybarger/ Studer Community Institute)

Are you ready to be the bulb?

The deadline is April 27 to submit ideas for the Be the Bulb challenge, which will award $50,000 for the best ideas to improve early learning in Escambia County.

Quint and Rishy Studer announced last month they will offer two $25,000 awards for proposals to improve kindergarten readiness in Escambia County. The community challenge will award:

— $25,000 for the best idea to improve kindergarten readiness submitted by an individual or group of people employed by the Escambia County School District.

— $25,000 for the best idea to improve kindergarten readiness submitted by an individual, nonprofit or other groups of people who are not employed by Escambia Schools.

Enter your ideas here.

"Each year in Escambia County about 1,000 children enter kindergarten unprepared,” said Quint Studer. “That means one out of three children show up behind from day one.”

Studer said two years of research by the Studer Community Institute and the University of West Florida's Office of Economic Development and Engagement have shown that kindergarten readiness is the most critical education issue facing Escambia County.

“Rishy and I believe that every parent wants his or her child to be ready for kindergarten,” said Studer. “When a child is not ready, the dedicated teachers and support personnel at Escambia County schools have to spend extra time to help him or her catch up. Sadly, many never will.

“Because we think this is such an important issue, we’re looking for those ideas that can significantly reduce the number of children showing up to their first day of school unprepared.”

To submit an idea, go to studeri.org/bethebulb and click the link that says “Submit Your Idea” and fill out the submission form.

“If people want to mail or email their ideas, they still need to go the website and fill out the submission form and explain how they will submit their idea,” said Nicole Webb, marketing director for the Institute.

Webb also said people need to the read the guidelines, which are on the Be the Bulb page and sign up for the Institute’s newsletter, which will provide updates on the challenge as well as summaries of local and national best practices in early learning.

“If people have questions, there’s a Frequently Asked Questions feature on the Be the Bulb page,” said Webb. “If you don’t see an answer to your question, email us at [email protected], or call us at (850) 432-8982, ext. 401. But the best way to reach us is by email.”