Jumpstart

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The Jumpstart program at Boston University is a high-quality, comprehensive program that focuses on the development of children ages 3 to 5 and their families. A national organization, Jumpstart partners with BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development to train university students to mentor young children in Boston community preschools. University students serve with Jumpstart as a member of AmeriCorps.

University students are paired with preschool children in caring and supportive one-to-one relationships that support language, literacy, and social-emotional development. By focusing on school success, family involvement, and future teachers, Jumpstart works to create an environment of lifelong learning for children.

 

About Jumpstart

Benefits

As a professional service experience, Jumpstart offers tangible and lifelong skill-building benefits.

  • Earn Federal Work-Study or stipend (subject to eligibility).
  • Earn a minimal-time (300 hours) Segal AmeriCorps Education Award.
  • Gain significant classroom experience working directly with a diverse group of children, families, and teachers
  • Build key career skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem solving.
  • Connect with passionate and like-minded peers
  • Serve the greater Boston community

Commitment

Each AmeriCorps member is partnered with a team of BU peers and preschool classroom with whom they will work twice a week for two hours each session. Corps members also gain meaningful insight into early childhood education by providing individual classroom service in their assigned classroom for four hours each week.

Corps members commit to serve part-time, at total of 12–14 hours per week, during the school year. This commitment includes team planning meetings, individual classroom service, individual planning sessions, and a 2-credit service learning course at BU Wheelock.

Learn More about Jumpstart

Interested in being a part of the Jumpstart program? Apply now!

For more information, contact Kerry Fargnoli (email kisakson@bu.edu or call 617-358-3273).