Urgent need for early education access in Nevada: State-funded program available
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Mon, 06/17/2024 - 8:07am
The 2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book, released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, highlights significant challenges in child well-being across Nevada, emphasizing an urgent need for accessible early education. As Nevada works to improve its rankings in child well-being and education, families face critical barriers to accessing early learning opportunities.
Nevada is ranked 47th overall for child well-being, with specific rankings of 46th in education and 45th in family and community. The data reveals that 16% of Nevada’s children are living in poverty, and 67% of children ages 3 and 4, approximately 50,000 children, are not attending school. Additionally, 73% of Nevada’s fourth graders are not proficient in reading, and 79% of eighth graders are not proficient in math.
In response to these challenges, the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services is funding Waterford Upstart, an at-home early learning program aimed at preparing 4-year-old children for kindergarten. Registration is happening now, and children will begin the program this fall. Eligibility for this program includes families who are at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, reside in rural areas, or have foster children.
"It’s vital that families know about this resource," said Dr. Matt Hill, CEO at Waterford.org. "Our program is designed to provide quality early education right at home, removing barriers like cost and access to technology. Families who qualify can enroll their children now to ensure they are ready for kindergarten."
The program offers adaptive reading lessons for 15 minutes a day, with an additional 15 minutes for math and science lessons. This flexible, accessible format fits into family routines while providing essential early learning support.
Waterford.org’s program has shown significant positive impacts, particularly for multilingual learners. In a study involving 740 kindergarten students, those using Waterford outperformed their peers in all outcome measures. Notably, Dual Language Learners (DLL) demonstrated greater gains than both DLL students in the comparison group and native English-speaking groups.
"We need to act quickly to inform families about this opportunity," [Your Last Name] added. "This program can make a significant difference in a child’s educational journey, especially for those who might not have access to traditional preschool."
By partnering with the state, Head Start/Preschools, foster families, and other early education advocates, we aim to remove barriers to supporting a child's early education needs and providing them with the opportunity to succeed.
For more information about the at-home early learning program and to register, please contact Kim Fischer at 801-831-0828 or kimfischer@waterford.org.
Waterford.org is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing equitable access to proven early education programs for children and the adults who support them. Partnering with caring adults at school, home, and early childhood centers, Waterford.org offers tailored learning experiences that cater to the unique needs of every child, fostering confidence, curiosity, and a sense of belonging.
Through over 30 peer-reviewed studies and personalized family support, Waterford.org delivers explicit reading, math, and science instruction, designed for how children learn, to ensure they thrive in their educational journey. Waterford.org has been recognized by TED as an Audacious Project, showing its potential to bring about transformative change in education.
