Jumpstart offers research grants

Jumpstart, a national nonprofit early education organization, provides small grants ranging between US$5,000 and $7,500 for promising research that addresses significant questions on the processes and impact of Jumpstart for early reading development and social-emotional development. The intent of such grants is to provide researchers with the opportunity to develop important perspectives on the influence of Jumpstart in the lives of young children who live in low-income and high-stress communities. Up to three grants will be awarded each year.

Funded studies may be carried out using any research method or approach as long as the focus of the project is on examining the Jumpstart program. Priority will be given to applications that use rigorous research designs and methodologies. Individuals who are faculty members currently engaged in a higher education program at an accredited institution of higher education, or graduate students under the mentorship of such faculty, are eligible to apply for a Jumpstart research grant.

Jumpstart currently serves more than 9,000 preschool-age children each year in over 250 preschools, Head Start programs, and child care centers. Jumpstart volunteers are community members (ages 25 to 75-years-old) or college and university students (95%) at over 60 higher education institutions. The volunteers operate two 2-hour Jumpstart supplemental educational intervention sessions each week that focus on early language, literacy, and social skills. The curriculum is designed to help children develop the alphabetic principle and engage in rich language and literacy activities.

For the 2011 grant awards, researchers must submit proposals by February 18, 2011. Electronic submissions are required. Jumpstart’s grant review committee will review all proposals and make award announcements by April 1, 2011. For further information, visit this webpage.