About
UPSTART is an in-home, technology-delivered kindergarten readiness program. It uses award-winning adaptive software to provide preschool-aged children an individualized reading, math, and science curriculum at home, and a robust parent engagement program to support and involve families.
Our Mission
UPSTART was developed by Waterford Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to providing every child with the finest education through the development of high-quality educational models, programs, and software.
Our Story
2010
External evaluation of Year 1 – UPSTART users make gains in early reading
2009
UPSTART is launched; 1,308 children enroll
2014
Utah State Legislature approves a 5-year extension and additional funding; enrollment increases to 5,000 children
2013
External evaluation of year 3 – UPSTART users have significantly stronger learning rates than a control group
Waterford is awarded an Investing in Innovation (i3) Grant by the U.S. Dept. of Education to expand the program to children in Utah
2015
Waterford Institute initiates two UPSTART pilot studies in South Carolina and Idaho
UPSTART receives an additional $1 million funding; enrollment reaches 15% of Utah’s preschoolers
2016
UPSTART Utah class grows to 10,000 children.
Waterford adds UPSTART pilots in Philadelphia, Mississippi and Ohio.
Independent longitudinal study shows UPSTART participants saw immediate benefits and were still outperforming their control group peers on standardized tests through the fourth grade.
UPSTART Utah receives $2 million in in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to expand program to reach more families.
Our Story
2010
External evaluation of Year 1 – UPSTART users make gains in early reading
2009
UPSTART is launched; 1,308 children enroll
2014
Utah State Legislature approves a 5-year extension and additional funding; enrollment increases to 5,000 children
2013
External evaluation of year 3 – UPSTART users have significantly stronger learning rates than a control group
Waterford is awarded an Investing in Innovation (i3) Grant by the U.S. Dept. of Education to expand the program to children in Utah
2015
Waterford Institute initiates two UPSTART pilot studies in South Carolina and Idaho
UPSTART receives an additional $1 million funding; enrollment reaches 15% of Utah’s preschoolers
2016
UPSTART Utah class grows to 10,000 children.
Waterford adds UPSTART pilots in Philadelphia, Mississippi and Ohio.
Independent longitudinal study shows UPSTART participants saw immediate benefits and were still outperforming their control group peers on standardized tests through the fourth grade.
UPSTART Utah receives $2 million in in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to expand program to reach more families.
Upstart Advisory Committee
Gonzalo Palza
CEO and Head Start Director, Centro de la Familia de Utah
Claudia Miner
Vice President of Development, Waterford Institute
Kathleen Petersen
Title I Director, Washington County School District
Tami Pyfer
Education Advisor to Governor, Utah Governor’s Office
Chuck Foster
American Indian Education Specialist, ESEA/Federal Programs, Utah State Office of Education
Sarah Young
Digital Teaching and Learning Coordinator, Utah State Office of Education
Arlene Anderson
Program Director, South Sanpete School District
Maria Cruz Gray
Director Hispanic Outreach, Dioceses of Salt Lake
Lois Oestreich
Associate Professor, Salt Lake Community College
