Virtual Pre-K Reading Program Struggles To Find Children During Pandemic Unable to load the audio player. playpausemuteunmute Article origination IPBS-RJC An external review of Waterford's UPSTART program recommends Indiana lawmakers continue providing funding for it, since it has a significant impact on literacy for young learners. FILE PHOTO: WFIU/WTIU An online literacy program aims to help children in poverty learn to read as they prepare to enter kindergarten, but the group is struggling to find families because of the pandemic. Waterford.org's UPSTART is a computer-based program designed for parents to help their pre-kindergarten children learn to read. Kim Fischer is the spokesperson for Waterford. She said the target audience is families who don't qualify, or have access to state funded preschool.