Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

DePaul Students Fundraising to Save Jumpstart Preschool Program

By Paul Biasco | July 27, 2015 8:20am
 DePaul University students are raising money to save a preschool education program.
DePaul University students are raising money to save a preschool education program.
View Full Caption
Provided

LINCOLN PARK — Students at DePaul University are fighting to save a program that sends college students to help teach preschool-aged children in Chicago.

Funding for Jumpstart, a national early education organization that trains college-aged students to teach preschool in low-income neighborhoods, was abruptly cut. The long-standing $3.1 million federal grant was not renewed and that will directly impact the effort at DePaul University, according to the group.

The DePaul chapter lost $130,000 that helped fund the program's materials and pay salaries for the student teachers.

Since its inception at DePaul in 2003, students have spent multiple days a week helping preschool classrooms across the city. Last year they partnered with five schools with a team of 70 students who travel to classrooms twice a week for two hours.

Given the funding cut, the DePaul Jumpstart team is hoping to raise $30,000 to be able to keep a team of 45 students. The group plans to cut their staff down from two site managers to one if they are able to raise the money.

DePaul University in the past has helped provide about half the funds for the program, according to Shontell Burch, a DePaul University senior who has been working with Jumpstart for three years.

Burch, who grew up in North Lawndale, said the program allowed her to give back to her community and use her experience of success in college as an example to young people.

"I think it will dampen the hopes that our families and children have," Burch said. "Growing up in the community, I know there's a feeling that because they live in these communities, that's how they will be defined."

More than 800 DePaul students have participated in Jumpstart since it started and those students have impacted the lives of more than 2,500 preschool children in Chicago's under-resourced communities.

The school currently partners with Chicago Public Schools and Head Start Centers in North Lawndale, Rogers Park and West Town.

"Jumpstart aims to close that [education] gap so those children can have a good success rate of going up to high school and college," she said.

Those looking to contribute can do so at tilt.com until the fundraising campaign ends Aug. 7.

For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here: