A $15 million grant over three years will place AmeriCorps volunteers in persistently underachieving schools around the country, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said last week.
AmeriCorps is managed by the federal Corporation for National and Community Service, which in partnership with the Education Department plans to place 650 volunteers each year in 60 rural and urban schools. The corporation will also raise private funds to contribute to the effort.
The grant will augment AmeriCorps work already ongoing in low-performing schools: currently, its volunteers work in a quarter of the 1,300 schools eligible for federal school improvement grants.
Public or private nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and other community groups; schools or districts; institutions of higher education; cities and counties; Native American tribes; and labor organizations are all eligible to apply. Programs will be expected to strengthen parent and family involvement in schools, improve school safety, accelerate student learning, and increase graduation and college-enrollment rates. Applications are due April 2.
