Lehigh Valley Reads Partners Again With Waterford.org After Extremely Successful Pilot Program
92% of children in Waterford Upstart pilot are kindergarten-ready regardless of income, ethnicity, or zip code.
Bethlehem, PA – Dec. 6, 2021 – After a successful pilot program engaging 60 children from across the region, Lehigh Valley Reads will be continuing its partnership with Waterford.org to help address the lack of access to high quality early learning in the Commonwealth. This round will provide 40 students access to the Waterford Upstart PreK program.
Currently, 60% of 3 and 4-year-old children in Pennsylvania have no access to high-quality PreK. In light of this need, last year Lehigh Valley Reads, powered by PBS39 and United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, partnered with Waterford.org to provide children access to Waterford Upstart PreK program and results are showing overwhelming success despite a worldwide pandemic.
"This may have been a small pilot, but it was a mighty one,” said Angela Zanelli, Vice President of Policy & Advocacy for PBS39. “Nearly all of the students who participated in the program entered kindergarten ready to learn this year. We believe this program could be one additional tool in our toolbox when it comes to ensuring that all our children are ready for kindergarten.”
Waterford UPSTART is an in-home, early education program that prepares 4-year-old children for kindergarten. Families are given the tools they need to be their child’s first and most influential teachers, including a computer and internet at no cost. The program provides positive parent-child interactions while delivering personalized, online instruction 15 minutes a day, five days a week. Families are also supported by a coach and given tips to continue engaging their children offline.
On average, 92% of children who participate in Waterford Upstart are ready for kindergarten—compared to a 65% average nationwide and 48% for low-income children.
“The goal at Waterford.org is universal literacy. All children deserve an early learning solution, but barriers to access can keep them from receiving that crucial education,” said Kim Fischer, national spokesperson for Waterford.org. “When children start school behind their peers, they are likely to stay behind. We want to provide an equitable solution to those children so they can walk into kindergarten confident and ready to learn.”
The second program’s seats have not yet been filled. Families and teachers can register their children at www.Waterford.org/register.
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About Lehigh Valley Reads
A regional literacy campaign powered by Lehigh Valley Public Media and United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, to ensure all Lehigh Valley students read on grade level by the end of third grade, by 2025.