Jumpstart
Jumpstart is a national early education organization that recruits and trains college students to serve preschool children in low-income neighborhoods. Our proven curriculum helps children develop the language and literacy skills they need to be ready for kindergarten, setting them on a path to close the achievement gap before it is too late.
Together we are working toward the day every child in America enters kindergarten prepared to succeed.
ABOUT JUMPSTART
To combat the crisis in early literacy, Jumpstart, a national early education organization, works toward the day every child in America enters school prepared to succeed. Jumpstart partners 3,500 college students and community volunteers with preschool children in low-income communities for a full school year. Jumpstart helps children develop the language and literacy skills they’ll need to thrive in school and in life. For more information, visit Jumpstart.
ABOUT THE KEAN-JUMPSTART PARTNERSHIP
Kean University partnered with Jumpstart in the 2012 – 2013 academic year. Since then, Kean students of all majors have participated in Jumpstart, touching the lives of hundreds of local preschool children completing 300 hours of service each year! After successfully completing the hours requirement, students can potentially earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. Other benefits include internship credit and federal work study funds if found eligible. We are always searching for motivated, committed and enthusiastic students to contribute to our program and its leadership. Current preschool partners are located in the City of Elizabeth and Union, New Jersey.
GET INVOLVED!
There are many ways that Kean students can make a difference! We are now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 academic year, apply now!
Jumpstart Corps members have the unique opportunity to inspire young children to learn, serve in a local community, work on a team and build professional skills. All Corps members receive professional-caliber training to help them implement Jumpstart’s outcome-based program, promote children’s school success and build family involvement.
Jumpstart Corps Members serve part-time with a requirement of reaching 300 hours of service by the end of the academic year. Students are required to be available for one of the following time slots:
- Monday and Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Monday and Thursday: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Tuesday and Thursday: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Other hours can be gained through creating newsletters to the child’s family which shares strategies for extending learning, creating crafts for the preschool children, participating in ongoing training days, attending committee meetings and team bonding activities.