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Every child has the potential to succeed. But the potential for that success can only be realized if children have access to the right tools early in life.
Children from low-income neighborhoods often have limited access to high-quality early education resources and experiences, which puts them at a distinct disadvantage before they even begin school. Every day, Jumpstart is taking action to help set children on the path towards educational success.
The Case for National Service
Helping young children learn. Strengthening communities. Developing future leaders.
Jumpstart gives children from low-income backgrounds the foundation they need to reach their full potential, eliminating poverty as an obstacle to success.
Our Corps members implement Jumpstart’s high-quality, research-based early education curriculum in Head Start and other early learning centers around the country. Through our proven curriculum, children develop the language and literacy skills that set them on a path for lifelong success before kindergarten. By harnessing the enthusiasm and talent of these vibrant, dedicated volunteers, Jumpstart also provides vital resources and support to young children and families in low-income neighborhoods.
A proud AmeriCorps program, Jumpstart harnesses the power and enthusiasm of Americans who want to make a substantial difference in the lives of young children. By recruiting and training college students and community members to be part of the solution, Jumpstart provides committed and sustained service to young children in low-income communities.
Effective public-private partnerships
The needs of a community can't be met by government intervention or by private sector investments alone. AmeriCorps programs demonstrate how government should competitively fund results-driven, public-private partnerships. Innovative organizations like Jumpstart harness the power of civic service and provide effective methods for tackling the needs of a variety of communities. These organizations are also required to leverage a significant amount of private funding, making it one of the most effective public-private partnerships.
Service is cost-effective
Last year, Jumpstart Corps members alone provided $25.6 million in volunteer value to communities across the country.
Impact
The government must competitively fund results-driven, public-private partnerships because of the impact they have on the community. Increased funding for the Corporation for National and Community service means that committed Americans can continue to engage in meaningful service so resources are channeled to communities in need.
The Case for Early Childhood Education
Children who start school behind are more likely to stay behind, and this gap only widens over time.
A recent longitudinal study sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics has shown that children in low-income neighborhoods start kindergarten 60% behind peers from more affluent communities on measures of cognition (Lee & Burkham, 2002).
Jumpstart intervenes early to prepare children for kindergarten. We leverage low child-to-adult ratios to deliver a proven curriculum to young children, building the key language and literacy skills children need to be ready for school.
Investing in early education is cost-effective
Research confirms that high-quality early childhood education programs not only help eliminate the achievement gap, but they’re also highly cost-effective, reducing costs related to remedial services. As scholar and Nobel Laureate James Heckman points out, early intervention in children’s education has numerous benefits that extend beyond the individual child and to society at large. (James Heckman. “Working Paper No. 5.” Invest in Kids Working Group, 2004).
All young children should have access to the high-quality early education experiences critical to their – and, indeed, the country’s – future success. In order to do right by America's youngest citizens, and remain competitive with other industrialized countries, we all must invest in children early.
For inquiries about Jumpstart’s policy work, contact Jumpstart's Government Relations group at governmentrelations@jstart.org.