This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Utah has a free online preschool program called Upstart. Preschoolers enrolled in the program work on reading and other skills on a computer for 15 minutes a day, five days a week. The curriculum is tailored to each participating child based on testing before they begin.
Demand is high for this program, which helps prepare children for kindergarten. If you are interested in Upstart and have a 3 year old or 4 year old, you may want to put them on the program's waiting list now so they may be able to participate starting in the fall of next year or in 2014. You can even put a 2-year-old on the waiting list if you wish. Depending on your income, your family also may qualify for free Internet service and use of a computer while your child is part of the program.
I've posted information about this program periodically over the past two years and have received a number of e-mails from readers whose children have participated. Many say their children were reading well before they entered kindergarten thanks to Upstart. Go HERE for more information or to pre-register your children.