Program Description
ODE believes early positive relationships between schools, students, and families shape a child's educational experience for many years to come. Jump Start Kindergarten, a school-based summer program, helps students and their families experience a smooth and successful transition from early childhood into kindergarten.
Jump Start provides a unique opportunity to build relationships, spark joy, and deepen family engagement to support a seamless start to school.
The program is based on
three equity-driven program components:
-
Connection as the
Foundation for Learning
Children flourish and learn best in the context of strong and supportive
relationships.
-
Co-Creation, Collaboration,
and Partnership
Children succeed when families, schools
and communities work together during the
transitioning year.
-
Purposeful Outreach
and Engagement
Families thrive when they have access to
culturally affirming and inclusive environments.
Jump Start Kindergarten is intended to be a part of a broader kindergarten transition plan at the school that includes a variety of transition supports that begin during the year prior to Kindergarten.
While Jump Start Kindergarten programs vary school to school based on the unique needs of the school community, all programs include the following components:
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A half-day classroom experience for two weeks, at a minimum. Students participate in hands-on activities, classroom routines, and build positive relationships with classmates and educators.
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Family engagement as a cornerstone of Jump Start. Parents and caregivers have multiple opportunities to connect with school staff and other family members and to learn about school, district and community resources. This might be a school scavenger hunt, a playground meet and greet, or coffee with school staff.
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Partnerships with community-based organizations such as Head Start, culturally specific organizations, and health providers. These partnerships support strategic outreach with families who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
“I absolutely love this program. It is going to do amazing things for our incoming kindergartners. And our coordinator and teachers are so excited about it.”
- Fred Bartels, Director of Elementary School Improvement at Klamath Falls City School
To learn more about the positive impacts of Jump Start Kindergarten, read the
2022 Brief which highlights promising data on improving attendance rates.
For more information, please contact the
ODE Jump Start Kindergarten Team.