CURMUDGUCATION: IN: Welcome UPSTART Pre-K Cyberschool

CURMUDGUCATION: IN: Welcome UPSTART Pre-K Cyberschool:

IN: Welcome UPSTART Pre-K Cyberschool

You probably thought this was going to be one of those posts where I made fun of some trend in education by extending it to its logical yet absurd extreme. Sadly-- I mean, really sadly-- that is not the case.

"Seriously, dude. What the hell."

Meet UPSTART, a company that... well, let me just quote from their home page:

UPSTART is an in-home, technology-delivered kindergarten readiness program that gives preschool-aged children individualized reading, math and science instruction with a focus on reading.

How does it work? Participants get a free computer and free internet, in return for which they to spend fifteen minutes a day, five days a week. The program is Personalized Learning for Tiny Humans:

UPSTART is designed for very young children. It uses large buttons, obvious directions, and support that helps children progress. Each child moves through a personalized learning path that is designed to meet his or her skills and needs. The software assesses the child's progress at key milestones to determine what type of instruction each child will receive.

The family receives some training, and a personal care representative is standing by if they need CURMUDGUCATION: IN: Welcome UPSTART Pre-K Cyberschool: