Jumpstart firmly believes that the most effective way to unlock the potential of every child is to ensure that high-quality early education and care, taught by qualified and effective educators, is available to all.
To achieve this, Jumpstart seeks to transform early care and education (ECE) by advocating for significant, measurable change throughout the field. By mobilizing our alumni base and national network of leaders and champions, we are working to advocate for urgently needed changes in the ECE sector, higher education, and national service. Our network of advocates has the potential to inspire public support and investment in high-quality ECE through their voices, stories, and experiences.
At Jumpstart, we believe in a full-circle approach to early childhood education that recognizes the role of:
- Preschool children, their families, and their communities
- Early educators
- College students and other aspiring early educators
- Volunteers in preschool classrooms
Click here to partner with us in our policy and advocacy efforts.
Become An Advocate
You too can be a champion for early education! Click here for three easy ways to get involved.
Our Legislative Policy Positions and Priorities
Jumpstart believes in and advocates for the following:
- Accessible, high-quality early education
- A professional, stable, and well-compensated early education workforce
- Affordable higher education that incorporates valuable workforce training opportunities
- A commitment to national service
Learn more about Jumpstart’s Legislative Policy Positions and Priorities.
We know we can’t accomplish these lofty goals on our own. In addition, to support from our alums and network of leaders and champions, we benefit from our partnerships with Voices for National Service, America Forward, Common Start Coalition, Black Californians United for Early Care & Education, California’s Early Care and Education (ECE) Coalition, Empire State Campaign for Child Care, City’s First Readers Coalition, and more, to advance a public policy agenda that champions innovative and effective solutions to our country’s most pressing social problems.
Our Policy Accomplishments
- Waiver of the AmeriCorps grant match requirement for FY19 & FY20 grantees
- Lifting of the charitable giving deduction for itemized taxes
- Partial expansion of the charitable giving deduction for non-itemized taxes
- Provision of $5.4 billion emergency funding for children & families
- Inclusion of nonprofits in the Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program
- Extension to Jumpstart AmeriCorps members’ term of service
- Safeguarding of Jumpstart AmeriCorps members’ Segal Award eligibility for the 2019-2020 school year
- Suspension of student loan repayment
Policy News
This month Jumpstart’s Policy and Government Relations team joined nearly 400 providers, educators and advocates at National Association for the Education of Young Children’s Policy forum and advocacy day urging
Jumpstart CEO Naila Bolus Congratulates Mark Reilly on appointment to Undersecretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Boston, MA 02/22/23 – On the occasion of today’s announcement
Vice President of Policy and Government Relations, View All Policy News
Our Team
Demnlus Johnson
California Policy & Government Relations Manager
Contact Demnlus for any California inquiries.
Adanech Makey
Director of Civic Engagement & Advocacy
Contact Adanech for any general inquiries concerning civic engagement & advocacy.
Contact Us
For more information about Jumpstart’s policy advocacy initiatives and general inquiries, please contact policy@jstart.org
