CACC Programs » Federal Work-Study Community Service » CSU Fresno
California State University, Fresno
Enhancing Jumpstart with service-learning and academic ties
http://www.csufresno.edu/scs
Contact: Amy Lukianov,
Program Coordinator, Jumpstart Fresno,
(559) 278-8846, amyl@csufresno.edu
CSU Fresno’s community service options for Federal Work-Study students are varied and plentiful. One program, Jumpstart Fresno, is significant in that community service learning is an integral part of a rewarding amalgam of AmeriCorps, higher education institutions, and the well-researched Jumpstart national program. Thus FWS–eligible students who join Jumpstart as Corps members receive substantially enhanced training, supervision, and curriculum, and they benefit further from solid academic instruction improved by service learning pedagogy. All Corps members receive pay for their training and service, and they are eligible for AmeriCorps Education Awards tied to the number of hours they serve.
Jumpstart Fresno
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Jumpstart Fresno is a local affiliate site of Jumpstart for Young Children, a national organization with 60 campus and community sites nationwide. Jumpstart's national success relies on local higher education institutions’ ability to work with program partners in local Head Start and other preschools to enhance their established programs. Jumpstart Fresno utilizes FWS funds allocated to the university to employ eligible college students as tutors for children struggling to master school readiness skills, so they can be successful in kindergarten and first grade.
Eight to ten Corps members and a team leader operate at each partner site, and they are assigned to children whose teachers believe can benefit from extra help. The Corps members work closely with preschool instructors to develop and implement twice-weekly Jumpstart-designed sessions for the children.
Service Learning and Jumpstart
Jumpstart Fresno was the first Jumpstart affiliate to incorporate service-learning pedagogy to prepare and develop its AmeriCorps/ FWS members for their service as tutors. Since 2001, more than a quarter of all Jumpstart affiliates have replicated CSU Fresno's successful model. The Literacy and Early Education service-learning course, entitled Preparing Children for School Success: Developing Language, Literacy and Social Skills in Preschoolers, is required for all Corps members.
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The class is designed to increase Corps members’ ability to work effectively with young children and implement high quality Jumpstart sessions and other services focused on improving preschoolers’ language, literacy, social, and initiative skills. The course provides a foundation in early childhood theory and practice that prepares students for future study and work with children and builds Members’ leadership skills and their ability to interact with families and community members. Built on a foundation of child development principles, the course involves Corps members in analyzing a variety of curriculum models and case studies, and participating in reflection, group projects, presentations, critical thinking, and experiential learning. Corps members then integrate this information to inform their personal perspectives and classroom practices in their preschools.
Research on Service Learning and Jumpstart
Employing CSU Fresno’s service learning course with the Jumpstart model has increased FWS students’ academic success--GPA., retention and graduation rates--proven outcomes for those involved in community service-learning (Astin, 1996).
Amy Lukianov’s research comparing outcomes for students in the Jumpstart program with the addition of community service learning and those without this enhancement has found that:
One of Jumpstart’s desired outcomes is to encourage students to become preschool or elementary school teachers. Jumpstart participants with additional academic work through the service-learning course moved closer to that goal than those without, as they declared or changed their majors to K-12 education at a significantly higher rate (35 percent versus 26 percent).
Students who participated in service learning along with their Jumpstart training learned more about early childhood practices.
- Students’ confidence in leadership roles was significantly enhanced in Jumpstart programs with community service learning, resulting from students’ practice in speaking in groups, classroom dialog, reflection, and presentations.
- Students who participated in academic service learning with their Jumpstart training were more knowledgeable about early childhood learning and teaching practices
- Research found that coupling Jumpstart with service learning increased students' confidence as leaders, most likely resulting from students’ practice in speaking in groups, interacting in classroom dialogue, participating in reflection, and making classroom presentations
- Students’ awareness of community issues is significantly higher when they participate in service learning while serving in Jumpstart programs.
First Jumpstart Fresno Corps 2001-2002