Jumpstart ranked No. 1

By Briana Jessen
University Communications

The Fresno State Jumpstart program was recently ranked No. 1 out of 50 Jumpstarts across the nation when assessed on standards such as program management and quality of work, including curriculum development, adult and child interaction, classroom routing and relationship building.  

Funded by a grant from AmeriCorps, Jumpstart is a program that pairs college students with preschool children from low-income backgrounds in a one-on-one relationship. The children and their tutors work on areas such as language, literacy and social skills together for one year.  

The newly released findings show that before entering the program, the children who were Jumpstart participants were drastically behind their peers in language, initiative and social skill development. But by the spring they had made significantly greater gains in those same areas than their non-participating peers.

"It is beneficial for children to get a 'jumpstart' in their educational career so that they enter school on the same playing field as their peers," said program coordinator Amy Lukianov.    

At Fresno State, there are currently 58 Fresno State student Jumpstart Corps members serving as tutors to 187 preschool students. As a result of their service, the college students developed sharper leadership skills and felt more connected to their community, and to Fresno State, Lukianov said.

"It is tough sometimes for freshman students who come from out of town, to get acclimated to the school and community; Jumpstart helps them feel part of the university by making a difference in the community.   It's a win-win situation," she said.  

For some Fresno State students, the experience as a Jumpstart tutor has   influenced them to change their majors to child development or early childhood, elementary/secondary education. Lukianov said even those who pursue degrees in other areas find that they can apply the leadership, team work and communication skills that they learn as a corps member to their chosen field of study.

Take Debra Kusick for example. As a psychology major and a member of the National Honor Society Psi Chi, her experience as a Jumpstart corps member has afforded her the opportunity to attend graduate school in psychology and continue her work with children.

"It's a great feeling to watch your efforts take shape in a young child,” she said. “There is a sense of gratification as you watch them develop, knowing you supported that growth."

Jumpstart Fresno serves children at five sites, including the Huggins Early Education Center and Campus Children's Center at Fresno State.   For more information on the program visit www.csufresno.edu/jumpstart or www.jstart.org.