Waterford.org

Waterford.org is a national early education nonprofit whose programs teach reading, math and science to children from PreK through 2nd grade. Its About page puts the mission in one sentence: it "provides research-backed PreK through 2nd grade reading, math, and science programs that children can use wherever they learn." The goal it names is concrete and tied to an age: "Our tailored programs help children reach critical milestones by 3rd grade, laying the foundation for future success for every child."

The organization works for two kinds of reader on this directory. Parents and care providers use Waterford at home, and schools and districts use it in the classroom, with a professional learning arm that trains the teachers and runs workshops for families. The site runs in English and Spanish, with a language switch at the top of every page.

Waterford at home: Upstart

Waterford Upstart is the family program. The homepage describes it as "an effective early learning program that provides tailored lessons in reading, math, and science to build a strong early learning foundation." In the program list at the foot of the site it appears as "PreK Waterford Upstart", which marks it as a pre-kindergarten program. Families register for Upstart directly from the site, which gives Upstart its own registration page, its own support section and its own login, alongside a separate "Waterford Family" login.

The idea behind Upstart is the second of Waterford's stated beliefs, about working together: "caring adults at school and at home help children build confidence, curiosity, and a sense of belonging." Upstart is the program that covers the "at home" half of that sentence.

Waterford at school: Waterford Early Learning

Waterford Early Learning is the school product and covers the full PreK to 2nd grade range. The homepage calls it "an evidence-based supplemental early learning program" that engages PreK to 2nd grade learners "with explicit, adaptive instruction in reading, math, and science." Two words in that description define how a school should think about it. "Supplemental" means it sits beside a school's core teaching rather than replacing it. "Adaptive" means each child's path adjusts, in line with another of the stated beliefs: "Individualizing instruction meets every child's needs, improves engagement, and accelerates learning."

Teachers work from the program's data. The professional learning page describes coaches who help teachers use data reports to inform instruction, and says that "Data insights help educators support each learner's needs, while standards-aligned resources make it easy to complement whole-group, small-group, or targeted interventions." It also ties results to how consistently the program is used, recommending "sustainable routines for daily usage of Waterford and implementation fidelity."

The beliefs list explains the role of technology in all of this. One belief holds that innovative technology is "essential to providing all children with the opportunities and support they need to succeed", and another commits to "Acting on research and data that are valid, reliable, and inclusive." The site's research section carries a meta-analysis, case studies, stories of impact and an annual report.

Professional learning and coaching

Waterford Professional Learning is the service side, and the homepage says it "equips educators and families with knowledge, skills, and resources to support early literacy and math development in PreK-2nd grade learners." Its team "partners with preK-2nd grade school leaders and the educators they support", offering "tailored support for professional learning, improving student outcomes, and promoting equity with evidence-based programs." Delivery is flexible: "We offer services that meet your educators where they are", whether online, on-site or hybrid.

The work is organized under four headings. Science of Reading gives teachers "actionable resources to implement Science of Reading strategies". Family Engagement runs workshops for parents. Job-Embedded Coaching means support inside the school day, "modeling lessons, leading data reviews, or showcasing how to make the most of your software implementation." Increased Learner Outcomes covers routines and data use. Each engagement starts with planning: "We'll conduct a needs analysis, identify how your team learns best, and craft a customized plan tailored to your needs and goals."

The page states one outcome: "Children whose teachers received more hours of Waterford Professional Learning services averaged higher scores on end-of-year assessments across grade levels."

District voices back this up. Julio Nazario-Valle, Chief Academic Officer of Volusia County Schools in Florida, says "it's not a one-and-done. It's continuously helping and problem solving throughout." Dr. Emily Felton of the Douglas County School System in Georgia says working with the Waterford team gave her kindergarten and first-grade teachers "the tools to make waves of change in the world of literacy." Stephanie Hanselman, a kindergarten teacher at Northmoor Primary School in Peoria Public Schools, Illinois, explains why her school chose it: "we were interested in Waterford because it could help meet students where they're at for both reading and math."

Family engagement

The family workshops are led by Waterford staff, and through them "families gain the knowledge and resources to understand what their kids are learning, why it matters", and how to keep that learning going at home. They run "with instruction in English or Spanish", and Waterford handles the logistics: "We'll take care of everything from registration through workshop delivery", down to the flyers and the snacks. The Volusia County officer describes the effect of the district's Family Academy this way: "when educators have those home components, you're able to see the students flourish even more."

Related reading on the site includes "The CARES Framework for Building Family Engagement: A Guide for Early Education Leaders" and a webinar, "Partnering for Student Success: Family Engagement Strategies for Early Education Leaders". Waterford also runs community reading events, such as the statewide Utah Read-A-Thon on October 2.

Free resources for teachers

Teachers outside a Waterford school can still use Waterford's free material. A resource page lists "free Waterford.org Science of Reading webinars" that "offer a free online professional learning opportunity to explore research-based classroom strategies." The six sessions are Phonological Awareness: The Structure of Spoken Language; Phonics: Breaking the Reading Code; Fluency: The Bridge from Word Identification to Reading Comprehension; Comprehension & Vocabulary: Reading as a Lifelong Tool for Learning; Language Concepts: The Structure of Written Language; and Communication: The Four Domains of Language. There is also an e-book, "Get Practical with the Science of Reading: A Short Guide for Early Childhood Educators", and webinars such as "Unveiling the Power of Research: Waterford.org Efficacy".

The organization

Waterford.org is a 501(c)(3) organization at 4246 Riverboat Rd, Taylorsville, UT 84123, and it accepts donations that are "tax deductible as allowed by law." It marks five decades of work with a "50th Anniversary Experience" and publishes an annual report and financials. A news item on the site announces Dr. Kristi James as Chief Academic Officer and Executive Vice President of Curriculum. The site publishes no prices for its school programs or services; schools start with the contact form on the professional learning page.

Who it suits

Waterford fits a school or district that wants an adaptive, research-backed supplement for reading, math and science in PreK through 2nd grade, especially one that also wants coaching for its teachers and structured outreach to parents. Districts with Spanish-speaking families get workshops in Spanish and a Spanish version of the site. Schools focused on the Science of Reading will find the professional learning built around it.

For families, Upstart suits parents of a preschooler who want structured early reading, math and science at home from a nonprofit. Teachers anywhere can use the free Science of Reading webinars.

Its range is deliberately narrow. The programs stop at 2nd grade, so a school looking for one product across all elementary grades will cover the later years elsewhere, and Waterford Early Learning is built to supplement core teaching rather than replace it.