Racine Sun

State funding for an at-home pre-K program has been renewed for six school districts in Wisconsin, with the largest achievement gaps, including Racine Unified School District, the Racine County Eye reported.

The state funding will provide the program through a nonprofit group, Waterford Upstart, at no charge to 1,000 families and includes a computer, internet access and a personal coach, the story said.

"Reaching children early is the best way to help them succeed,” Kim Fischer, spokesperson for Waterford.org, told the newspaper. “Our partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is removing many of the barriers families face when it comes to early learning. We look forward to more equitable outcomes across the state for qualifying families.”

The program's goal is to help kindergarteners start school prepared and confident to receive instruction. Families will be provided with tools to help them get their child ready for kindergarten. 

Students are in the program 15 minutes each day, five days per week, learning how to read, the story said. Another 15 minutes can be devoted to math and science.

According to Waterford, 92% of children in the program are adequately prepared for kindergarten by the time they complete the program compared to 65% nationally, the Eye reported.