UPSTART, an in-home pilot program geared toward 4-year-olds, was created by the Legislature in 2009. It hinges on software developed by Salt Lake City's Waterford Institute and focuses on literacy and math, helping to lay foundations for learning before kids enter school and has reached more than 3,000 homes since it began.Claudia Miner, vice president for development at the institute, said UPSTART can level the playing field for early education in the state. While most preschools are privately run and charge tuition, UPSTART is state-funded. What's more, it's geared toward low-income families, so if a family can't afford a computer to run the software, the state will loan them one. Deseret News
