Opportunity for free, in-home early education in Montana

As both a long-time Montana educator and as a current Legislator, I have been aware that many rural Montana families are unable to access early childhood educational opportunities within their communities. A U.S. Department of Education grant will provide families in Montana and four other western states the opportunity to access an early childhood option at home through the Waterford UPSTART program.

 The Waterford UPSTART program, which was created by the Utah State Legislature in 2009, provides a solution to rural educational challenges by helping preschool-age children and their families prepare for kindergarten using adaptive software to develop foundational skills needed for school success. The program is available to families at no cost and includes a computer and internet service for homes that need them.

Under this program, preschool-age children use Waterford UPSTART software in the home for 15-20 minutes per day, five days a week. Children receive a personalized curriculum in reading, math, and science that is aligned to Montana Early Learning Standards; Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework; CASEL Social and Emotional Learning Competencies; and is endorsed by the Council of Administrators of Special Education.

As part of the program, each family receives coaching support. Parent engagement activities are reinforced by live coaching that includes weekly emails and personalized calls with parents to support program participation and fidelity, troubleshoot learning routines, and celebrate progress.

As part of the federal grant, Waterford.org created the Waterford UPSTART Great Plains TASK (Taking All to Success in Kindergarten) Force as a consortium to advance early education priorities and to expand opportunities for kindergarten readiness in the Great Plains states. TASK Force members include the Montana Head Start Association, the Blackfeet Early Childhood Center and the Montana Office of Public Instruction. Enrollment in the Waterford UPSTART program is limited to 200 children for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year, but the program will be available for two years in Montana with 400 children participating during the 2021-2022 school year. To be eligible for enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year program, children must enter kindergarten in 2021 with a birth date between September 11, 2015 and September 10, 2016. Registration is now open and families can register by phone at (888) 982-9898 or online at www.waterfordupstart.org.

Representative Fred Anderson Ph.D, is a member of the House Education Committee, and represents District 20