Programs
Jumpstart programs are made possible with the help of volunteers from local colleges and the community, who serve in a variety of preschool settings in underserved communities such as Head Start programs, community based classrooms, and public school pre-K. Each member of our volunteer “Corps” undergoes extensive training before entering the classroom, as well as ongoing coaching throughout the school year to ensure the highest quality program is consistently implemented. Click here to learn more about our program.
College Corps
Jumpstart partners with universities and colleges to recruit college students to serve in preschool classrooms in underserved communities. Our College Corps program offers students a chance to work alongside likeminded peers, receive high-quality training in early childhood development and education, and gain invaluable hands-on experience in the classroom, all while giving back to the local community. Jumpstart is a great opportunity for students who are interested in education, looking for a work-study opportunity, or simply love spending time with children. Click here to learn more about Jumpstart Corps members.
Students who participate can make an impact on educational equity while potentially earning funds to help pay for their college education through Federal Work Study or a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award (depending on where they serve).
Community Corps
While the majority of our volunteers are college students, our Community Corps program offers an opportunity for adults in the community to make a lasting impact on a child’s life. Jumpstart’s Boston Community Corps works with community organizations to recruit and engage adults of diverse backgrounds and ages, including seniors and retired adults. Community Corps members implement the same proven curriculum and program as our College Corps members, but with an added element of intergenerational relationship building. Community Corps members often serve in the communities where they live, allowing them to foster deeper connections with the children and families they serve. Click here to learn more about Jumpstart Community Corps members.
Boston Community Corps serves in Roxbury and Mattapan, and provides a small stipend to members for their service.
Local Initiatives
Family Child Care Initiative
Jumpstart is committed to developing new, innovative ways to prepare as many children as possible for kindergarten. Through our Family Child Care Initiative, Jumpstart Corps members deliver our proven curriculum to children who are cared for in a licensed home childcare setting. We convene a group of Family Child Care educators with the children they serve and Jumpstart Corps members conduct sessions in a large group setting. Last year alone, this new program allowed us to reach 145 more children in Massachusetts who lack access to a more structured preschool classroom experience.
Lawrence Literacy Hub
Jumpstart is a partner organization of this group that promotes opportunities to support literacy in and around Lawrence, MA.
Lowell Early Childhood Advisory Council
The mission of the Lowell Early Childhood Advisory Council is to promote a community commitment to and shared vision for nurturing and supporting young children, ages 0-8, and their families. Jumpstart attends monthly council meetings to add its perspective and support to relevant topics.
Boston Opportunity Agenda Early Education Convening
Jumpstart is a member of this collaborative, organized by Boston Opportunity Agenda, which aims to improve outcomes for Boston’s youth by convening leaders across sectors that serve children from birth to eight years old in Boston.
Opportunity Boston Coalition
Jumpstart is a member of this coalition, organized by Opportunity Boston, which advocates for improved opportunity outcomes for Boston’s children and youth through two strategies: a citywide movement and a school-based model focused on providing comprehensive supports for success.
Urban Edge Partnership
In Boston, Jumpstart partners with Urban Edge and Families First to offer families who live in affordable housing a comprehensive kindergarten readiness and wellness program. Twice weekly, children participate in Jumpstart sessions while their caregivers join for parent education and wellness workshops. This program leverages Urban Edge’s relationships with affordable housing residents, Jumpstart’s expertise in early education, and Families First’s approach to parent education. The program improves the language, literacy, and social-emotional skills of children, increases caregivers’ knowledge around parenting, and helps caregivers prepare their children for success in kindergarten and beyond.
