About Us
Jumpstart at the University of Washington was launched in September of 2003 as a collaborative effort between Undergraduate Academic Affairs, the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity, the College of Education, and the Work Study Office. Since 2003, UW undergraduates have worked with Seattle preschool children through the Jumpstart program.
Our vision
We strive for the day that every child in Seattle will enter kindergarten prepared to succeed.
Our values
Quality – We strive to ensure that quality permeates all aspects of our program, so that we provide optimal learning for both children and undergraduates.
Collaboration – We value collaboration with preschool families, teachers and staff, community partners, campus staff and faculty, and our national Jumpstart network as critical to improving the experiences of children and undergraduates.
Personal growth – We support the process of personal growth of individuals through goal setting, active learning, risk-taking, and ongoing reflection.
What We Do
Jumpstart Corps members implement the Jumpstart curriculum in preschool classrooms throughout South Seattle and White Center. The Jumpstart curriculum focuses on enriching oral language experiences for children – including intentional attention paid to children’s emotional language skills, such as labeling and understanding feelings. Members commit to serve on a team with 3-5 peers and work directly with preschool students for 300 hours throughout the academic year. Members work with local Jumpstart Site Managers on training, session planning, service opportunities, and more.
Jumpstart teams allow classrooms to reduce the student-to-teacher ratio to 4:1 in almost every Jumpstart classroom, enabling children to receive an individualized learning experience and develop nurturing relationships with caring adults. Through the Jumpstart program, UW students gain essential training, skills, and practical experience to be better prepared for the workforce and augment their undergraduate education.
CLICK HERE to see all Federal Work Study, AmeriCorps, volunteer, and stipend opportunities with Jumpstart UW!
