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Free Summer Learning Opportunity

May-August 2027

Children can lose up to
2 months of reading and math skills over the summer.

-National Summer Learning Association, 2023

10 weeks of learning can change a child’s whole summer.

Waterford offers research-backed summer programs that help rising kindergartners and first graders keep learning, build kindergarten readiness, prevent summer slide, and start school strong.

Get Summer Ready

Hear how Acelero Learning uses Waterford Upstart to meet families where they are, giving parents the tools and confidence to support learning at home and make early education accessible.

Waterford Upstart Makes a Difference

 

89%

of children started
kindergarten a full year ahead

97%

of families recommend
Waterford Upstart

50

years of early learning proven outcomes

What Is Upstart?

Waterford Upstart is an interactive learning program that helps children in PreK–2nd grade build strong skills in reading, math, and science. With activities that adapt to each child’s skill level, children learn at just the right pace through fun songs, stories, and games that make learning exciting in just 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week.

Families receive support throughout the program, including coaching, a library of resources in English and Spanish, and translation services.

How the Summer Learning Program Works for Communities and Families

Waterford’s Upstart Summer Learning Program helps communities connect families to early learning at home. Thanks to funding from the Education Innovation and Research (EIR) grant through the U.S. Department of Education, communities can expand access to early learning opportunities for families.

Program Overview

  • Designed to support children in rural communities, families with household incomes below 185% of the federal poverty level, multilingual learners, and children from diverse backgrounds.
  • Available in Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina,
    New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas.
  • Supports children entering kindergarten or first grade in Fall 2027.
  • Open to families who are not currently enrolled in a Waterford program.
  • Program runs May 4–August 29, 2027.


What can community organizations and providers do right now to support families this summer?

Hear what helps summer learning efforts make the biggest impact and how organizations and providers can help connect families to opportunities that support early learning at home.

Bring This Opportunity to Families in Your Community

Community organizations and providers play a meaningful role in helping families learn about opportunities that support early learning. If you serve rural and/or high-need communities and want to help spread the word, you can help connect families with young children to this free summer learning program.

Want to start sharing right away?

Visit our partner outreach page to access information and ready-to-use flyers, social posts, and messaging to help you share this opportunity with families in your community.

Family Flyer in English and Spanish 
 

 

Interested in helping connect families with Waterford programs?