National Service Agency Provides Funding Opportunity to Increase Academic Engagement Through Service-Learning
“Youth Engagement Zones” Support Youth in Schools That Need It Most
Washington, DC — The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) today announced a funding opportunity to improve engagement and increase achievement in the nation’s most under-resourced school districts. The Learn and Serve America Youth Engagement Zones grants will fund schools and organizations to help students come to class eager to learn and graduate ready to succeed.
The grants will provide up to three years of funding to partnerships that connect high schools, community colleges, and community organizations in a close collaboration. Youth will learn and serve in a defined geographic area – a “Youth Engagement Zone” – that includes schools and school districts in which 70% or less of the students graduate and 70% or more live below the poverty level.
More and more, America’s youth struggle to find their way to academic and social success. Many do not complete high school, and many of those who do are unable to attend college. These grants will use service-learning programs to help students learn, engage and achieve in school and prepare for college. Service-learning engages youth to investigate, analyze and solve challenges confronting schools and neighborhoods, making the nation’s communities vibrant places to live.
Funding for this grant competition is contingent on the enactment of the Fiscal Year 2011 budget for CNCS. Click here for more information about this funding opportunity and instructions on how to apply. Applications are due by 5 pm EST, March 31, 2011.
About the Corporation for National and Community Service
The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America and the Social Innovation Fund, and leads President Obama’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.
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