Eastern Michigan University’s Jumpstart program,
which helps develop literacy and social skills in preschool
children from the Ypsilanti School District, Lincoln Schools,
Dorothy’s Discovery Center and the Adventure Center,
has won a $1,000 grant from the Target Corporation.
 |
TARGETED AWARD: Eastern
Michigan University's
Jumpstart
program recently received a
$1,000 grant
from Target to
help develop literacy and
reading
skills in preschool
children from area school
districts. |
“Jumpstart distributes materials to the families
of children participating in the program, so the power
of the one-on-one learning relationship can be reinforced
at home during the time families spend together,” said
Christie Cadmus, Jumpstart program coordinator. “With
the Target community grant, we will be able to provide
additional materials to ensure success.”
The grant will fund a new book each week for the 45 children
enrolled in Jumpstart. Reading books will help prepare
them for school, said Cadmus. Extensive research has shown
that children, who know the alphabet by age five, will
be able to read at the 10th grade level in the 10th grade.
EMU’s Jumpstart program was recently ranked number
one in the nation with an average of 35 percent of its
children meeting the required literacy and social levels,
compared to 16 percent nationally. The scores are based
on the modified High/Scope Educational Research Foundation’s
Child Observation Record and the Jumpstart school success
checklist.
