(Courtesy photo) "Jacob" is a recent graduate of the Waterford Upstart early literacy program for Pre-K age children.

CONCORD — Parents of Pre-K age children throughout New Hampshire have until the end of January to register for a free, multi-faceted kindergarten readiness online program called Waterford Upstart, thanks to a grant the program received from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER), according to a Waterford spokeswoman.

A number of local parents signed their children up for the program on Tuesday, when Waterford representatives visited the Nashua Public Library during the children’s storytime period.

As a result of the deadline extension to Jan. 31, parents in Greater Nashua and throughout the state have more time to sign up.

Children ages 4 and 5 who are entering kindergarten for the 2023-24 school year are eligible for the program.

The registration process takes place online, and takes about five minutes to complete. Parents can register through www.waterford.org, or by contacting Waterford outreach liaison Jeanie Ryan at jeanryan@waterford.org or 603-235-5266.

Additional information, including how to co-host a registration event or to learn more about the program, is also available by contacting Ryan.

Children selected for the program will receive a free laptop, and if needed, a free internet hotspot, Ryan said.

Also provided to children as part of the program are free early literacy programs, educational program coaches, and math and science components, she added.

Waterford, according to Ryan, is a “rigorously-tested and proven program” that “combines the science of learning, the power of mentoring, and the promise of technology to build family and community partnerships that deliver access, excellence, and equity in early education for all children.”

With factors such as “the growing digital divide, New Hampshire’s teacher shortage, and (long) Pre-K waitlists, there are many children who are not currently in Pre-K,” and others “who simply could use more learning support” as they prepare to enter kindergarten in fall 2023, Ryan said.

Many of these children “could be learning at home each day, for 15 minutes a day, five days a week, with this … early learning literacy program,” she added.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.