Waterford.org Awarded $13.9M Grant to Expand Early Education Success in Rural Southern States
TAYLORSVILLE, Utah, December 5, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Waterford.org, a national not-for-profit committed to advancing early education, proudly announces a $13.9 million Education Innovation and Research (EIR) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Waterford received bipartisan support from federal legislators in securing this grant, which is focused on expanding school readiness in rural communities across 16 southern states.
This initiative builds upon Waterford's successful partnership with the Department of Ed. in five Western states, using evidence-based solutions to address rural community needs. Totaling $15.3 million over five years, the project aims to expand this strategy by fostering authentic community partnerships to develop a scalable blueprint for enhancing student achievement.
The Upstart Rural TASK Force, led by Waterford.org, will study the impact of early learning on thousands of PreK through 2nd-grade students across Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
"Our focus is to ensure that every child, no matter their location, has access to quality early education," stated Rebecca Kelley, Head of Advocacy and Community Engagement. "This study ensures we continue to scale evidence-based programs and advance equity through early learning."
The EIR award expands the work of Waterford.org, backed by philanthropic funders, including Blue Meridian Partners, Valhalla, Overdeck Family Foundation and Yield Giving. Waterford is also grateful for the transformational support from The Audacious Project by TED, which continues to position the organization for success.
Waterford's evidence-based approach to delivering personalized reading, math and science learning, complemented by family support, has undergone thorough third-party research, earning Tier 1 recognition by What Works Clearinghouse.
Partners for Rural Impact, a fellow Blue Meridian Partner grantee, and the American Institutes for Research (AIR) join Waterford.org in this mission. AIR shares a vision of equitable access to high-quality learning for all children.
For more information about Waterford programs and collaboration opportunities, visit the Waterford.org website.
Media Contact:
Kim Fischer
Executive Vice President of Marketing & Communication
Waterford.org
801-831-0828
kimfischer@waterford.org
Source: Waterford.org
