About The Ready For School Initiative
The Ready For School Initiative is a Montgomery County nonprofit organization working to improve educational outcomes in Montgomery County. We're a collection of education advocates hoping to increase the number of families signed up for the Free School Meal program, boost school funding, improve the district's data on where resources can go the furthest, and ensure every student arrives to class hunger-free and ready to learn.
Our Impact since 2022:
As of June 2025
Free School Meals safety PSAs viewed 13.4 million times by MoCo Families
During the back-to-school season, we run targeted public service announcements online explaining the safety of filling out a FARMS application, the individual and school benefits of signing up, and our $50 school supply reimbursement incentive.
$84,000+ distributed in direct cash transfers & community support
We give Montgomery County families in need direct assistance, both through our Free School Meal incentive program and through community partners, including Olney Help, the Muslim Community Center, Identity Inc., and the Upcounty Hub. We also support innovative community programs enriching the lives of young people, including the Police Sports Club and Admissions Gambit's first-generation college counseling.
~6,000 more students with access to free breakfast in schools + 12 schools with increased state funding
When 40% of students sign up for Free School Meals, the school receives extra state funding through the Maryland Meals for Achievement program, enabling free in-class breakfast for all students.​
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Towards the end of Free School Meal sign-up season, we target schools at the eligibility border to encourage sign-ups: collaborating with PTAs and administrators on outreach strategy and explanatory materials, plus running ZIP-code targeted online PSAs in those neighborhoods.
Our Team:
