This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Young children throughout rural Utah will soon get free computer-based preschool lessons in their homes, thanks to a $11.5 million federal grant.
Eighteen rural Utah school districts have signed agreements with Sandy-based Waterford Institute to participate in the company's UPSTART program, which delivers preschool lessons via home computers.
More than 7,000 Utah children have already participated in the program since it began receiving state funding five years ago. Now the program will expand to 18 rural districts with federal Investing in Innovation money.
Preschoolers from each district can participate in the voluntary program until kindergarten. They'll then use it again during the summers in kindergarten through second grade to try to prevent learning loss during the summers.
The districts are Beaver, Daggett, Duchesne County, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Kane, Millard, North Sanpete, North Summit, Piute, Rich, San Juan, Sevier, South Sanpete, South Summit, Tintic and Wayne.
In related news, the Legislature has also passed SB148, which extends the state-funded portion of the program for five more years. It also gives priority, for the state-funded portion, to students from low-income families and those learning English. —
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