Students who used Waterford UPSTART’s home-based preschool model had significantly higher literacy scores than control peers who did not use the program. In its sixth year, enrollment grew, and participants outperformed a matched control group in decoding, phonological awareness, and letter knowledge.
Study Focus: Home-Based
UPSTART Program Report of FY 2016
UPSTART helps preschoolers build strong early literacy skills, with lasting impacts for all students, including those in at-risk communities, through grades one through four. Results support the program’s effectiveness and its broader implementation for at‑risk preschoolers.
Utah Upstart Year 7 Results
UPSTART students who used the program as recommended had better reading outcomes than matched students who didn’t use the program. Cohort 7 families engaged steadily, and graduates averaged high program use. Overall results continue to show that consistent participation supports early literacy success.
Utah Upstart Year 8 Results
UPSTART continues to help preschoolers build strong early literacy skills that carry into kindergarten and first grade. Cohort 8 saw higher graduation rates even with major enrollment growth, and students who met usage goals showed stronger outcomes. Consistent participation remains key to supporting the most at‑risk learners’ success.
Utah High-Quality School Readiness Expansion Program Evaluation 2017-2018
Most preschoolers across three high-quality preschool implementation modes entered kindergarten with solid early literacy, but UPSTART children showed stronger reading skills than similar peers. Public and private programs showed no significant literacy or math advantages; social-emotional development was similar across groups.
Impact of UPSTART Reading Participation on Preschooler’s Early Literacy Skills
Children using UPSTART’s reading software scored higher in letter knowledge and phonological awareness than those using math software, even after accounting for prior skills and district differences. The study shows that computer‑based early literacy instruction can effectively strengthen foundational reading skills for rural preschoolers.
Mississippi UPSTART and Head Start Evaluation
Mississippi preschoolers who used UPSTART reading or math maintained academic advantages through kindergarten: reading users scored higher in literacy, math users scored higher in math, and social‑emotional skills were similar. The program showed lasting benefits for children in high‑poverty communities.
Improving Early Math Skills: Upstart Program Effects from PreK to Kindergarten
Nevada preschoolers randomly assigned to the Upstart math program scored higher in math concepts and applications than those randomly assigned to the reading program, both after PreK and again in kindergarten. Multilingual and non-multilingual learners benefited equally. Results show early, at‑home, technology‑based math instruction can strengthen school‑readiness skills.
Waterford Upstart Summer Learning Program Effects
Rural preschoolers who used Waterford Upstart’s Summer Learning Path before kindergarten scored significantly higher on measures of early math skills. The adaptive, at‑home program helped address limited early‑education access and pandemic disruptions. Results show technology‑based summer learning can strengthen school‑readiness math skills for rural children.
Using CAI to Fidelity to Combat Learning Loss in Early Learners
Children who had high usage of Waterford’s computer‑assisted summer reading program before kindergarten scored higher in early literacy than low‑usage peers. This held across income, language, gender, and preschool experience. Consistent use of computer‑assisted instruction can help prevent summer learning loss for young children.