tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864992991756418300.post774145081669233767..comments2023-08-29T08:26:49.318-06:00Comments on Utah Education Issues: Maybe the worst bill in the education omnibus, HB 200—$3400 software plus laptops for preschoolersUtahTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10161171487351224481noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864992991756418300.post-87351776652106404962016-11-22T07:40:41.130-07:002016-11-22T07:40:41.130-07:00Hi I am curious did your child complete the progra...Hi I am curious did your child complete the program. Our city is starting the program and I curious is it worth it... I am nervous with amount of screen time the program is demanding on a 4 year old child.ECoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18418004592238147860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864992991756418300.post-47117352163951085592010-03-16T21:17:57.361-06:002010-03-16T21:17:57.361-06:00I have a sister that has a child currently partici...I have a sister that has a child currently participating in the upstart program, and a daughter of my own on the waiting list. I'd like to clarify what I understand of the program: <br />First - This program is NOT only for low-income families. The program is available to everyone, and to not discriminate between those who have computers at home and those that can't afford computers, they will provide a computer to lease at no cost to run the program. So, if you already have a computer that can run the program, the only cost to the state is to pay the install fee (which when I asked, was about $120.00) and the monthly subscription ($30.00). <br />SECOND - This program is to help students perform better in the first years of school. I myself teach at a private school, and I can tell you from experience that students that come to school with a prior knowledge of the material have a huge advantage. They also develop confidence that will aid them in learning for the rest of their live. <br /><br />I hope that the legislator will continue this program. We are eagerly waiting for our turn to join the program. I can say from my own experience that I feel like this is a big help to our students.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864992991756418300.post-88579822018637574682009-11-17T01:23:41.566-07:002009-11-17T01:23:41.566-07:00I just found your website after doing a search for...I just found your website after doing a search for waterford upstart. I found out about upstart through a friend of mine who started her daughter in the program. So I got in contact with them answered a few questions (such as annual income, etc.) and my son was accepted in their program. The program is ok at best. Annoying to say the least. It felt very invasive as they knew and were logging all this information about you and your children. Then come to find out through your site that it is for low income kids. We are most definitely not in the low-income category. And how would kids in low-income category even be able to receive this type of services when most do not have access to computers. I'm a little more than disgusted with them at the moment especially after reading your post. I just wish there was some way of holding them accountable.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15098219224851828558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864992991756418300.post-58658339360311461512008-10-29T07:35:00.000-06:002008-10-29T07:35:00.000-06:00The lawsuit claiming SB2 (including the UPSTART po...The lawsuit claiming SB2 (including the UPSTART portion) is unconstitutional is moving forward. A couple of weeks ago a district judge ruled the legislature cannot directly intervene in the suit. (They'll have to work through--or more accurately, make suggestions to--the AG's office.)Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04486513311176687085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864992991756418300.post-17608361716468934792008-10-28T20:43:00.000-06:002008-10-28T20:43:00.000-06:00I have heard this bill called "Welfare for Waterfo...I have heard this bill called "Welfare for Waterford". Probably appropriate.007https://www.blogger.com/profile/10194532365133579233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864992991756418300.post-66880635942908410962008-10-28T08:42:00.000-06:002008-10-28T08:42:00.000-06:00"Tail wagging the dog" RFPs are unfortunately comm..."Tail wagging the dog" RFPs are unfortunately common. Either the RFP is created with a specific bidder in mind OR it gets massaged to encompassed actions that it was never intended to accomplish. The bidding process is so often "black box" so that the public never gets a chance to review it. We certainly must demand more transparency in these processes.Jesse Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468928702710912142noreply@blogger.com