“This grant is a recognition of the dedication and commitment of early childhood educators to the development, growth and care of young children from low-income families,” said Dr. Correa.
The JumpStart award will provide students and faculty with opportunities to give back directly to the children in the local communities where the CAFS Department lives and serves.
The curriculum through JumpStart is designed to foster oral language in English for young children. It is also designed so children will receive adult-child interactions and meaningful outcomes for children through developmentally appropriate classroom experiences.
“As we know field-based, high-quality practicum experiences for teachers is important for implementing high-quality instructional practices to better support children’s learning and growth, I’m grateful for being able to provide this opportunity to our students,” said Dr. Hur, assistant professor in the CAFS Department.
“This program is meaningful because the JumpStart mission is to support the learning and development of children who are in adverse circumstances by training students to implement evidence-based instructional practices that are focused on language and social-emotional skills. Additionally, I believe students will be able to obtain the skills and knowledge as early childhood education teachers, which will have positive long-lasting impact on our community when they enter their careers,” Dr. Hur added.
The CAFS students will be able to utilize the educational award waiver at this time, due to the additional stresses they have been encountering with financial instability from the pandemic. The funds will be available for up to seven years, and students are able to transfer the credit to another member of their family, should they not use it for themselves.
“As recipients of the JumpStart training, our students will become AmeriCorp members, working with preschool children in local childcare centers that serve children and families from low-income backgrounds,” said Dr. Correa. “As a nationally recognized organization, students will be eligible for other benefits that are available to all AmeriCorp members across the United States.”