Leveraging National Service in Your Schools

A Superintendent’s/Principal’s Toolkit to Utilizing National Service Resources

NOVEMBER 2021

MENTORING

PROGRAMS

EARLY

LEARNING TUTORING

HIGH SCHOOL

COMPLETION

ATTENDANCE

SUPPORT

AFTER-SCHOOL

AND SUMMER

PROGRAMS

STEM

PROGRAMS

COLLEGE

ACCESS

WORKFORCE

DEVELOPMENT
1

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................................................2

Overview of National Service...................................................................................................................................................3

Utilizing National Service Resources.......................................................................................................................................6

Determining Your District/School Needs.....................................................................................................................6

Selecting a National Service Program.........................................................................................................................10

Requesting National Service Resources/Funding....................................................................................................15

National Service as a Pathway to Education and Employment for Students............................................................19

Appendix A: Examples of How School Districts and States are Leveraging National Service.........................20

“AmeriCorps members played an integral part in our school support network. They served 

as relatable mentors and role models for our students and much-needed assistance for our 

staff. They interfaced seamlessly with teachers, families and other community partners, 

helping to create a positive and responsive culture in our schools.”

Christopher N. Maher, former Superintendent

Providence Public School District

Contents
2

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused extensive disruption in our nation’s schools. Collaborating with AmeriCorps 

team members can help school districts address the impacts of the pandemic, from supporting physical health 

and safety to assisting with school-based supports so students get back on track. While AmeriCorps members 

do not take the place of school staff members or positions, they can help school-based staff stay focused on 

their core job responsibilities by supporting or taking on non-core responsibilities to help staff provide critical 

services to students. For example, AmeriCorps members may do some of the additional work that the pandemic 

has required of schools, whether contact tracing, or supporting COVID-19 testing efforts. AmeriCorps can help 

promote equity by supporting students who have been the most underserved or hit the hardest by the pandemic. 

AmeriCorps service can also inspire volunteers to become educators, including in the schools where they serve. 

See Appendix A for examples.

To help students heal, learn, and grow, the U.S. Department of Education developed a Return to School Roadmap

that highlights key components of safely reopening schools, as shown below. These key components, which 

education funding from the American Rescue Plan can support, are organized around three landmarks: 

1. Prioritize the health and safety of students, school personnel, and families;

2. Build school communities, and support students’ social, emotional, and mental health; and

3. Accelerate academic achievement.

AmeriCorps team members can help with all of these landmarks. Throughout this toolkit, we use the related 

symbol to identify ways AmeriCorps members can support schools in addressing these steps in the Return 

to School Roadmap.

School health and safety measures are critical to supporting all students and staff. AmeriCorps members can 

help make sure schools are a safe learning environment, by assisting in implementing strong public health 

measures that everyone follows. Vaccination is the leading public health prevention strategy to end the 

COVID-19 pandemic, and AmeriCorps teams can support school-based vaccination clinics. For additional 

information on COVID-19 prevention in schools, please see CDC guidance and Department of Education 

COVID-19 Handbooks, particularly volume 1.
3

Overview of National Service in Education

AmeriCorps works with community partners to develop and implement after-school 

or summer learning programs:

y Provides one-on-one tutoring to students to increase academic achievement

y Mentors students to improve attendance and graduation rates

y Works with community partners to develop after-school or summer programs

y Advises students on applying for financial aid for college

y Helps support your work implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act

y Conducts fundraising and outreach

y Creates a pipeline of future teachers

12,000 schools across the country are leveraging national service programs to assist them in these areas and 

many others. Approximately 65,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers are providing 

cost-effective, high-impact services to address schools’ most pressing needs and ensure that all students 

are ready for college, careers, and full participation in civic life. National service programs support all types 

of schools, including schools in urban and rural areas, schools with large low-income populations, traditional 

public schools, public charter schools, and schools with large minority and multilingual populations.

y National service participants are helping 1 out of every 4 low-performing schools nationwide.

y National service programs direct over $350 million in resources to education initiatives annually. In addition, 

more than $150 million in AmeriCorps Segal Education Awards are issued to national service alumni to 

help pay for college, technical schools, or repay student loans. Over half of AmeriCorps’ budget supports 

education-related programs.

y AmeriCorps State and National programs served more than 1.4 million children and youth, and AmeriCorps 

Seniors Foster Grandparent and RSVP volunteers tutored, mentored, or served an estimated 170,000 

students, helping mitigate impacts of school closures and other educational disruptions due to COVID-19.

What is National Service and How Does It Support Schools?

National service is a cost-effective source of human capital to improve student outcomes. More than 28,000

AmeriCorps members and 23,000 AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve students in K-12 programming. Fulltime and part-time volunteers and members who receive stipends serve in schools, nonprofits, faith-based 

groups, local government agencies, and other community organizations to tackle pressing problems, including 

improving education, at a local level. Funding for national service participants is supported by AmeriCorps and 

AmeriCorps Seniors.

Can School Districts Access these Resources?

Yes! AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors programs allow schools, local education agencies, state education 

agencies, nonprofits, state and local government agencies, universities and colleges, tribal nations, and others 

to request participants to address local challenges they have identified, including education needs. School 

districts and state education agencies can apply directly; apply in partnership with a city, state, university, or 

nonprofit organization; or be a service location for other applicants. School districts might consider partnering 

with existing programs that have demonstrated results.

How Can National Service Programs Support Schools?

Programs support students across the cradle-to-career continuum. With a wide range of programs and 

flexibility, AmeriCorps works closely with partners to meet local needs, including:

y Early learning

y Mentoring

y Tutoring

y Family engagement

y School climate

y Classroom instruction

y School improvement

y High school completion

y College access and retention

y Workforce development

y STEM programs

y After-school and summer school

y Improving attendance

y Social emotional learning

y Wraparound services
4

What are the Benefits of Leveraging National Service Programs?

• National service programs make a sustained investment in students, schools, and communities. 

Ȉ AmeriCorps grants typically last three years or more, and many AmeriCorps members serve full-time 

for 10-12 months, contributing up to 1,700 hours annually. Members can also serve for shorter terms, 

for example, two months in summer programs.

Ȉ AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in the Foster Grandparent program serve in schools from 5 to 40 hours 

a week. The flexible AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP, can mobilize older adult volunteers to support shortand long-term projects. In both programs, volunteers typically return to the school for multiple years. 

The average length of service for an AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer is eight years.

Programs are cost-effective and have a significant return on investment. A Columbia University study found 

that every dollar invested in national service provides a 2-to-1 return on investment and a nearly 4-to-1 

social return.

• National service programs deliver results. Rigorous independent evaluations have demonstrated that 

programs can improve school readiness, increase reading and math achievement, improve school 

attendance and behavior, and increase access to college and careers.

• Many students from low-income backgrounds need additional support and assistance. National service is 

a cost-effective human capital strategy that provides the personalized support students need to succeed.

• Programs are responsive to local needs and allow districts to determine how to use resources most effectively.

• National service participants are mission-driven. Participants join national service programs because they 

are passionate about serving the community and improving education.

• National service creates a pipeline of teachers. Participants gain first-hand experience working with youth 

and may go on to pursue careers in teaching.

Is This Toolkit Relevant for State and Local Officials?

Yes! While the primary users of this toolkit are principals 

and superintendents, most of the information is relevant 

to State Education Agencies, state boards of education, 

governors, mayors, state legislators, and others interested 

in improving education and ensuring young people 

succeed in school and life. State and local government 

agencies, including State Education Agencies, are eligible 

recipients of AmeriCorps resources. As states work 

to implement their Every Student Succeeds Act plans, 

they should consider national service as a cost-effective 

strategy to reduce chronic absenteeism, improve reading 

by third grade, increase high school graduation rates, and 

support low-performing schools. For specific examples of 

how states have leveraged national service, please see the 

Minnesota and Colorado profiles in Appendix A.

Want Help Accessing these Resources?

Most states have a Governor-appointed State Service 

Commission who can help you think about how to leverage 

national service in your school, district, or state. AmeriCorps 

also has regional offices with staff to serve every state. 

They are an excellent resource for technical assistance as 

well as identifying partners. In addition to this toolkit, you 

may want to contact your regional office or Commission to 

discuss what program best meets your needs.

AmeriCorps Seniors Tutoring

The Interfaith Tutor Program 

is a partnership between 

Milwaukee Public Schools 

and the Interfaith Milwaukee 

RSVP. The program is volunteer 

driven and comes at no cost 

to the school. Through this 

collaboration, RSVP connects 

older adults (age 55+) with 

students to improve academic 

performance and engagement. 
5

“AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors 

programs provided vital support to students 

across Minnesota. From kindergarten 

readiness and reading well by third grade, to 

high school graduation and college success, 

national service is a cost-effective strategy 

that made a big difference in our state.”

Brenda Cassellius, Ph.D.

former Commissioner

Minnesota Department of Education
6

Utilizing National Service Resources

More than half of AmeriCorps’ budget is devoted to education-related programs, making it a larger funder 

of education than many education foundations.

Steps to strategically leverage national service in your schools/district:

1. Determine Your Needs: Identify the services that your schools and students need, and the role that 

national service members could play in meeting those needs. National service resources must be directed 

to high-need schools and/or underserved student populations.

2. Select a National Service Program: Match your needs to an AmeriCorps program. The types of services 

members and volunteers provide vary slightly by program.

3. Find a Partnership or Apply Directly: In many cases, schools request national service members from an 

external partner like a community organization, city, or university, that is already receiving AmeriCorps 

resources. These intermediaries assist in the management of participants. Districts can also apply directly.

Section 1: Determine Your Needs

National service is a versatile resource that can help support your schools in a variety of ways. Given the 

breadth of services provided by national service programs, in order to find the right program for your schools, 

it’s helpful to understand what your needs are and how national service programs can address those needs.

1. Review or conduct a data-driven needs assessment

The first step in the process is to identify your school or district needs. Most schools and districts will already 

have multiple sources of information they can draw from. Gather and review existing sources of information 

to fully understand and prioritize your needs. Student achievement data, attendance data, school climate and 

safety data, educator equity data, and teacher and community survey data can be used to determine where to 

implement national service as a solution. Early warning indicator systems can be a great source of information. 

Teachers and school staff, district staff, partner organizations, parents, students, and other community 

members can also provide important perspectives on areas of need.

Districts that have recently conducted a needs assessment or strategic plan can reference them during 

this process. Common school district plans include Title I Schoolwide Plan/Needs Assessment, School 

Improvement Plan, Local Education Agencies or State Education Agencies Strategic Plan, State Every 

Student Succeeds Act Plans, and American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency 

Relief Fund State and local plans.

Determine

Your Needs

Select a National 

Service Program that 

Meets Your Needs

Find a Partnership 

or Apply Directly

Determine

Your Needs

Select a National 

Service Program that 

Meets Your Needs

Find a Partnership 

or Apply Directly
7

As part of the needs assessment, it will often be important to identify the schools and students that need 

the most support. National service programs promote equity across the district by directing resources to the 

schools and students who need them the most. Underserved students face a variety of challenges and often 

need additional supports. National service can help provide the human capital to give these students the 

resources they need to succeed.

2. Prioritize needs that can be met through the people power of national service

Review the results generated by the needs assessment and consider what your priorities are for current and 

upcoming years. Offer stakeholders an opportunity to define priorities. Through conversations with multiple 

stakeholder groups, schools can more effectively prioritize needs that can be met through additional resources 

and partnerships.

What are your goals for the year? What are you hoping to accomplish that you just don’t have the people or 

resources to do? How will you reach the goals established in your State Every Student Succeeds Act plans? 

The following questions can help determine if national service can help:

What are the needs of your schools and students that can be met by national service? 

Below are some examples of the services provided by national service participants. 

• Early learning

• Mentoring

• Tutoring

• Family engagement

• School climate

• Service learning

• STEM programs

• After-school programs

• Improving attendance

• Summer school

• Community partnerships

• Fundraising

• Volunteer recruitment

• Drug use prevention

• Healthy habits (food and fitness)

• Teacher training

• Vaccine clinics and contact tracing

• Social emotional learning

• Wraparound services

• Reading by third grade

• Classroom instruction

• School turnaround

• High school graduation

• College access

• Workforce development

MENTORING

PROGRAMS

EARLY

LEARNING TUTORING

HIGH SCHOOL

COMPLETION

ATTENDANCE

SUPPORT

AFTER-SCHOOL

AND SUMMER

PROGRAMS

STEM

PROGRAMS

COLLEGE

ACCESS

WORKFORCE

DEVELOPMENT
8

Are you facing human capital challenges? Do your needs require one or more of the following?

 A sustained investment of time and resources that staff are not able to provide.

 Tasks that are outside the scope of staff’s responsibilities or would pull them away from other activities.

 Additional in-classroom support for teachers and students.

 Individualized support for students to meet the goals established by Every Student Succeeds Act.

 Development of partnerships, fundraising, or outreach.

 Expansion of student services in a particular area such as STEM or college access.

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, your schools may benefit from national service. Please see 

Appendix A for examples of national service programs. These examples will give you an idea of how national 

service resources have been used to support these activities. There is flexibility and programs should be 

designed to meet your specific needs. Please keep in mind that, by law, national service members cannot be 

used to duplicate or displace staff.

3. Determine where national service participants are already serving in your area

To see where participants are serving in your state, refer to AmeriCorps’ state-specific national service resources, 

which include a list of service locations. For each state, the Service Locations show a comprehensive list 

of places where national service participants serve, including specific schools and grantees/sponsors. This 

will help you to identify what services are already available in your community and allow you to reach out to 

organizations hosting national service participants for guidance or potential partnerships.

AmeriCorps also has regional offices with staff to serve every state and a State Service Commission that can 

also be helpful in identifying existing programs and resources. Visit our contact page for additional help.

AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors Education-Related Sites Across the United States

AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps Seniors

VISTA

RSVP

NCCC

FGP

ASN
9

Key questions to ask at each stage of the process

Stage of Determining 

Your Needs Questions to Ask/Items to Consider

1. Review or conduct 

a comprehensive 

assessment of school 

and district-wide 

needs and assets.

• What are your goals/priorities for this year and beyond?

• What goals are you having trouble meeting?

• What goals are you seeing improvement in but would like to continue 

identifying innovative ways to accomplish?

• What services does your school need?

• Which are your highest need populations?

• What partners do you currently have, and what services do they provide?

2. Prioritize needs that 

can be met through 

national service

• Which of your needs align with the people power provided by national service?

• Do any of your needs require one or more of the following?

Ȉ A sustained investment of time and resources that staff or volunteers 

may not be able to provide?

Ȉ Tasks that are outside the scope of staff’s responsibilities or would 

pull them away from other activities?

Ȉ Additional in-classroom support for teachers and/or individualized 

support for students?

Ȉ Development of partnerships, fundraising, and/or outreach?

Ȉ Expansion of student services in a particular area?

• How can national service programs help you meet your needs?

3. Determine the 

presence of national 

service participants 

in your area

• Are there national service participants in my school district? 

Ȉ What services are they providing? Where?

Ȉ Can we expand the partnership to other schools?

• Are there national service participants in a nearby district?

Ȉ Can we bring those programs into our district?

Ȉ Can we gather feedback/advice from that district on how to implement 

national service programs?

• Are there national service participants in my state?

Ȉ Is there an opportunity to leverage statewide or multi-district national 

service projects?

Ȉ Does the State Education Agency have any opportunities for multidistrict national service projects?
10

Section 2: Select a National Service Program that Meets Your Needs

All of the national service programs mentioned in this toolkit have a footprint in education, but the services 

that participants typically provide vary by program. It’s possible to apply for, and receive services from, more 

than one program. Use the resources in this section to help choose the right program(s) based on your needs. 

Review brief descriptions of the programs, examples of the education services they provide, and the project 

requirements and eligibility criteria.

What AmeriCorps Programs can help support Students and Schools?

There are three types of AmeriCorps programs and two specific AmeriCorps Seniors programs that support 

youth and education.

AmeriCorps State and National: members, 17 and older, are engaged in direct service and 

capacity building. Members typically provide services such as:

• Tutoring

• Mentoring

• Classroom instruction

• Improving attendance 

• Providing college access support

• Increasing graduation rates

Grantees range from local organizations to large nonprofits. 

Learn more about AmeriCorps State and National programs

AmeriCorps members in the VISTA program provide capacity-building services to strengthen and 

support efforts to alleviate poverty and poverty-related problems. AmeriCorps VISTA members 

serve as short-term resources to build long-term sustainability: projects typically last three to five 

years and are developed with a goal to phase out the need for AmeriCorps VISTA members and 

have project activities continue.

• Recruiting and training mentors and tutors

• Creating STEM projects for underserved youth

• Establishing college access centers

• Mobilizing partnerships to support wraparound services

• Supporting expanded learning time initiatives, including summer programs

• Developing drug use prevention programs to educate youth about their dangers

• Leveraging cash and in-kind resources and developing new programs

Learn more about the AmeriCorps VISTA program

Determine

Your Needs

Select a National 

Service Program that 

Meets Your Needs

Find a Partnership 

or Apply Directly

Sample Project: Through a collaborative partnership with Milwaukee Public Schools, 

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee’s SPARK Early Literacy Program utilizes 

AmeriCorps members to boost the literacy skills of K4-third grade students who have 

been identified by their classroom teachers as struggling readers. Members provide 

one-on-one tutoring or small group reading activities during and after-school at eight 

locations and also develop strong relationships with families.
11

The AmeriCorps NCCC program engages teams of 18-24 year olds in service projects that often 

last from six to eight weeks. Members typically provide services such as:

• Education on recycling, sustainability, and energy conservation practices

• Disaster-preparedness workshops/education

• Tutoring

• Running summer school/camp programs

Learn more about the AmeriCorps NCCC program

The AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program provides caring and experienced tutors 

and mentors to children and youth, serving on average 15 to 40 hours per week. Volunteers work 

one-on-one with students for a year or longer. Volunteers typically provide services such as:

• Helping children to read and providing one-on-one tutoring

• Mentoring underserved teenagers and youth

• Reviewing school work to help children improve their academic performance

Learn more about the AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent program

AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP is one of the largest senior volunteer organizations in the nation. 

The program engages more than 145,000 people age 55 and older in a diverse range of 

volunteer activities and services: 

• Tutoring and mentoring disadvantaged or disabled youth

• Assisting students from low-income backgrounds prepare for college

• Engaging underprivileged youth in STEM projects and exposing them to STEM professionals

Learn more about the AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP program

Sample Project: As part of The Education Alliance STEM Hub Schools project, 

AmeriCorps members in the VISTA program at eight West Virginia schools developed 

partnerships with STEM-related businesses, wrote a STEM curriculum, provided training 

for teachers in STEM education, and created opportunities for STEM businesses and 

students to learn more about opportunities for future employment.

Sample Project: AmeriCorps members in the NCCC program supported Washington 

Elementary School, a high-poverty school located in Sacramento, CA. Members helped 

provide much needed in-classroom support and individual tutoring and mentoring 

for students. Members also helped develop a school garden, painted murals and 

implemented school-wide events.

Sample Project: AmeriCorps Senior volunteers with the CA Department of 

Developmental Services Foster Grandparent program mentored special needs 

students in centers across Orange County, Fla. Volunteers provided one-on-one 

mentoring to encourage attendance and improve academic performance. 
12

To better understand the difference between the programs, it can be helpful to use an example of a 

hypothetical tutoring program:

• If you want a large number of people to tutor through direct service either full- or part-time 

over an extended time period, then AmeriCorps State and National could be a good fit.

• If you want a few people to serve full-time to recruit, train, and manage other volunteers to be tutors, then 

the AmeriCorps VISTA could be a good fit.

• If you need a team of tutors for a six week summer program (short-term service projects), then the 

AmeriCorps NCCC program could be a good fit.

• If you want experienced volunteers age 55+ to tutor students one-on-one, four or five times a week, then 

the AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent program could be a good fit.

• If you want experienced volunteers age 55+ to help tutor students a few times a week, then the 

AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP program could be a good fit.

Sample Project: The RSVP of Montgomery County PA AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP 

program serves public and charter schools in Chester and Montgomery counties, Penn. 

Volunteer tutors support two STEM initiatives: STEM Career Exposure Presentations in 

which professional engineers, scientists, and others hold interactive demonstrations on 

the kind of careers that result from a science and math education; and My Free Tutor, 

an online, interactive math tutoring program. In the program, volunteers exclusively 

serve students who are from low-income families. 
13

Here is detailed information on each program, including eligibility and other criteria:

Program Project Criteria Length of Project Eligibility Other Criteria AmeriCorps State and National

Single-state applicants 

must meet the grant 

selection criteria 

specified by State 

Service Commissions 

(which vary by state). 

Some states may require 

applicants to include 

a minimum number of 

members per grant. 

Applicants must have 

the capacity to manage 

a grant, manage funds, 

and supervise members. 

Programs must address 

compelling needs, 

have demonstrable, 

measurable goals, and 

have a plan for program 

oversight and monitoring.

Grants provide funding 

and AmeriCorps member 

positions for periods of 

1-3 years, with the option 

to apply for renewal. 

Members serve in terms 

of up to 12 months at the 

grantee organization or 

at host sites selected by 

the grantee.

Grant applications 

are accepted from 

nonprofit organizations, 

community and faithbased organizations, 

educational institutions, 

and state, local, and 

tribal governments.

Programs follow state 

and federal regulations, 

terms and conditions 

for financial and grants 

management of the 

program, and State 

Commission grant 

requirements. Programs 

must report on project 

accomplishments and 

may need to participate 

in statewide training 

and service projects. 

Grantees must provide 

matching funds (cash or 

in-kind) from 24 to 50 

percent to help support 

the program.

Some other federal 

funds can help meet the 

matching requirements, 

if allowed by the 

program. 

AmeriCorps VISTA

To be considered for 

an AmeriCorps VISTA 

program, the applicant 

must reflect the VISTA 

poverty mission, address 

one or more AmeriCorps 

focus areas (including 

education), clearly 

articulate defined goals 

with measurable impact, 

show sustainability, 

and demonstrate 

organizational capacity 

to support AmeriCorps 

members.

AmeriCorps members 

serve with a sponsoring 

organization for a full 

year. Resources are 

normally allocated to a 

sponsoring organization 

for up to three years.

Project sponsors may be 

state or local agencies; 

nonprofit organizations 

(i.e., faith-based 

agencies, educational 

institutions, etc.), or 

tribal nations.

Sponsoring organizations 

absorb most of the 

costs related to 

project supervision 

and logistical support. 

Investment by the 

sponsoring organization 

and community is 

fundamental to the 

VISTA program.

States and districts can 

use some other federal 

funds to support project 

implementation.
14

AmeriCorps NCCC

NCCC projects must 

address a compelling 

community need, have 

clearly stated and 

well-planned tasks 

and objectives, have 

demonstrable measurable 

goals, engage members 

in meaningful service, 

provide opportunity for 

member development, 

involve community, 

and have a plan for 

sustainability.

Projects are normally 

six-to-eight weeks in 

duration but will vary 

depending on the 

requirements of the 

project. Projects must be 

capable of using at least 

one full team of 8-to-12 

members effectively.

NCCC teams are 

available to help 

community and faithbased organizations, 

national nonprofits, 

schools, local 

municipalities, national 

and state parks, and 

Indian tribes.

Project sponsors are 

required to provide 

materials, specialized 

tools, orientation, 

training, and technical 

supervision. When teams 

are based off campus, 

project sponsors work 

with AmeriCorps to help 

arrange housing, kitchen 

facilities, and other 

logistical needs.

States and districts can 

use some other federal 

funds to support project 

implementation.

AmeriCorps Seniors: 

Foster Grandparent program

AmeriCorps Seniors 

Foster Grandparent 

applicants must 

demonstrate that their 

projects will provide 

support and/or facilitate 

access to services 

and resources that 

contribute to improved 

educational outcomes 

for economically 

disadvantaged people, 

especially children, 

and for children 

with special and/or 

exceptional needs.

Awards are normally 

allocated to a sponsoring 

organization for three 

years. Successful 

applicants may apply 

for a renewal after 

each three year award. 

Volunteers are required 

to commit to at least 15 

hours a week.

Applications are 

accepted from nonprofit 

organizations, community 

and faith-based 

organizations, educational 

institutions, and state and 

local governments. 

(Note: While school 

districts occasionally 

apply for grants to run 

programs directly, more 

typically, schools partner 

with existing grantees 

and participate as 

service locations.)

The applicant must have 

sufficient local presence 

to directly manage the 

proposed grant.

The operation of 

a grant cannot be 

delegated to another 

organization, even if the 

other organization is an 

affiliate of the applicant.

States and districts can 

use some other federal 

funds to support project 

implementation.

AmeriCorps Seniors: RSVP

AmeriCorps RSVP grants 

are awarded to eligible 

organizations that 

engage individuals, age 

55 and over, to volunteer 

in service activities. 

Volunteers engage 

in a diverse range of 

volunteer activities that 

serve community needs.

Awards are normally 

allocated to a sponsoring 

organization for three 

years. The AmeriCorps 

Seniors volunteers may 

serve a few hours or 

as many as 40 hours 

per week.

Applications are 

accepted from 

nonprofit organizations, 

community and faithbased organizations, 

educational institutions, 

and state and local 

governments. 

(Note: While school 

districts occasionally 

apply to run programs 

directly, more typically, 

schools are service 

locations.)

The applicant must have 

sufficient local presence 

to directly manage the 

proposed grant.

The operation of 

a grant cannot be 

delegated to another 

organization, even if the 

other organization is an 

affiliate of the applicant.

States and districts can 

use some other federal 

funds to support project 

implementation.
15

Section 3: Find a Partnership or Apply Directly

The process for requesting AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors resources varies by program. In some cases 

it involves an application process, while in other cases it may involve determining if your school district can 

be a site for an existing grantee. The best approach to take can also vary based on your relationships with 

community partners, your ability to manage grant funding, and your capacity to recruit, train, and support 

national service participants.

Finding a Partnership

Partnering with nonprofit and community organizations is a common approach taken by schools looking 

to leverage national service. This approach removes some of the burden from your district, and should be 

considered if your district may not have the infrastructure to manage funds, grants and/or participants.

Partners can help apply for resources, manage grants and funds, define participants’ responsibilities, recruit 

and support participants, and collect data for performance measures, which, depending on the program, may 

be required. A partner that has already utilized national service resources may be particularly helpful.

Nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and cities/mayor’s offices are common partners for 

school districts. When looking for a partnership, start by checking to see if any of these entities in your area 

already have national service resources. You can do this by referencing AmeriCorps’ state-specific national 

service resources to find programs in your area. If potential partners already utilize national service, have a 

discussion regarding the opportunity to expand their existing programming or collaborate on a new program. 

Determine

Your Needs

Select a National 

Service Program that 

Meets Your Needs

Find a Partnership 

or Apply Directly

Find a

partnership

Apply

directly

Contact

your

state

commission

Partner

with an

intermediary

to apply

Find a

partnership

Apply

directly

Partner

with an

intermediary

to apply

AmeriCorps

NCCC

Contact an NCCC

campus in your

region to apply for

an NCCC team

Requesting National Service Resources

AmeriCorps State

& National AmeriCorps VISTA AmeriCorpsSeniors
16

It can also be helpful to identify and work with a partner that has an evidence-based approach that can be 

implemented in your district, which may be simpler and more effective than creating a program from scratch. 

Many of the evidence-based programs align with the evidence framework in Every Student Succeeds Act. 

For more information see AmeriCorps Evidence Exchange and for evaluation results, see our research brief on 

Return on Investment Studies.

Partnering with an Institution of Higher Education: The University of Pennsylvania’s 

Netter Center for Community Partnerships houses the Philadelphia Higher Education 

Network for Neighborhood Development, which places full-time AmeriCorps members 

in the VISTA program into high-poverty Philadelphia schools and the school district 

of Philadelphia’s main office. AmeriCorps members serve as Community Partnership 

Coordinators and work to assess student’s needs and coordinate and facilitate community 

partnerships that meet those needs. George Washington’s Center for Civic Engagement 

and Public Service runs a similar program in DC Public Schools.

Partnering with the City: The City of Flint supports AmeriCorps members in the State 

and National program and VISTA program to help increase attendance, improve third 

grade literacy, increase graduation rates, and make schools a resource in the community 

at schools in Flint, Mich. AmeriCorps members provide new and expanded educational 

and recreational programs during the school year and summer, and engage parents, 

volunteers, and community partner organizations. An AmeriCorps NCCC team has 

also served to provide additional out-of-school programming to students and improve 

the physical infrastructure of the school buildings and surrounding neighborhoods.

Partnering with Governor, Mayor, and Local Organizations: The Boston Promise Corps 

was developed as a community collaboration between Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, 

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, BPE, 

and Boston Public Schools. The Boston Promise Corps, which is comprised of both 

the Boston Teacher Residency and Dudley Promise Corps, ensures that all students in 

Boston’s Dudley neighborhood are on track to graduate from high school and attend 

college. AmeriCorps members provide classroom interventions and extended day 

programming to support student achievement, all while preparing to be teachers 

and leaders in the highest need areas of the city.
17

School districts often have multiple partnerships that draw on different streams of service to support students 

along the cradle-to-career continuum. One example is Orange County Public Schools in Florida, which works 

with multiple partners:

• The City: the school district works with the City of Orlando to deploy AmeriCorps members to middle 

schools to improve the academic achievement of students from low-income backgrounds through tutoring 

and student support, as part of the Orlando Partnership for School Success program.

• National Partners: City Year utilizes full-time AmeriCorps members to improve math and literacy 

skills, reduce absenteeism, and get students on track for high school graduation. City Year 

Orlando serves in Orange County schools, and members reach thousands of students.

For a full profile of Orlando, see Appendix A.

Applying as a School or School District

Depending on the program, applying directly as a school district or school requires you to take full ownership 

of managing funds, defining participants’ responsibilities, training and supervising participants, and handling 

compliance and reporting requirements. While this approach allows you to bypass the process of finding and 

working with a partner, it also means additional responsibilities for your district or school. As a grantee, you 

will be solely responsible for meeting all grantee requirements and expectations pertaining to the program you 

choose to apply for. Schools and districts can use some other federal funds to support project implementation, 

as long as the use of funds is allowable under the other federal program.

If you choose to apply directly as a school district/school, ensure that you’ve addressed these questions prior 

to beginning your application:

 Do you have the organizational and staff capacity to train, manage, and supervise participants?

 Do you have the adequate policies and procedures in place to manage federal funds and grant requirements?

 Do you have sufficient cash or in-kind resources to meet match requirements, if applicable?

 Do you have the necessary systems/processes to capture and report on performance measure data?

 Do you have sufficient support from community partners to implement the program effectively?

The following are examples of how school districts utilize national service directly:

Jefferson County Public Schools School Turnaround AmeriCorps: Jefferson County 

Public Schools in Kentucky utilizes AmeriCorps members to mentor disadvantaged 

students at priority and focus schools to improve the academic engagement and 

attendance of participating students. Members also leverage volunteers for tutoring, 

parent and community engagement activities, and school-based service projects. 

AmeriCorps members help schools to achieve their school improvement goals. An 

implementation evaluation of the AmeriCorps School Turnaround initiative found 

that programs are perceived as contributing positively to achieving key outcomes, 

including improving students’ academic achievement and socio-emotional health.

View the national evaluation.
18

Applying for AmeriCorps or AmeriCorps Seniors grants

• Applying for AmeriCorps State and National – Contact your State Service Commission

• Applying for AmeriCorps VISTA or AmeriCorps Seniors – Contact your AmeriCorps Regional Office

What’s the difference between an AmeriCorps Regional Office and a State Service Commission?

AmeriCorps Regional Offices are federal offices staffed by federal employees in the states and U.S. territories. 

They conduct public outreach and program support. They are directly responsible for developing grants and 

projects, and for overseeing all AmeriCorps Seniors and AmeriCorps VISTA projects within their jurisdiction. 

Each AmeriCorps Regional Office works closely with the governor-appointed State Service Commission in 

their state.

State Service Commissions are governor-supported entities that provide AmeriCorps funding to AmeriCorps 

programs in their states through annual grant competitions. In addition, the commissions oversee, monitor 

and support these programs. Grants are made either directly to an organization or through an intermediary 

that handles the distribution of grant funding and the grant management functions to a consortium of smaller 

organizations. State Service Commissions are also charged with encouraging volunteerism in their states, and 

often administer special volunteer initiatives.

For additional information on how to secure national service resources, please use the following links:

• AmeriCorps State and National

• AmeriCorps VISTA

• AmeriCorps NCCC

• AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP

• AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program

• AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program

For additional information on leveraging national service to support student success see:

• The Service Year Alliance report on “How National Service Can Support Students in Low-Income Schools”

• The Service Year Alliance “Program Expansion Guide” which highlights education programs and ways to 

partner with them in your communities.

• The Everyone Graduates Center report “Overcoming the Poverty Challenge to Enable College and 

Career Readiness for All: The Crucial Role of Student Supports”

Please note that examples provided throughout the document are included as illustrations of national service programs. Information may be from prior 

years, may not include impact or results, and is not intended to provide full details of programs.

Birmingham School District: The Birmingham City School District in Alabama runs 

the Birmingham Engaging in STEM program, which places AmeriCorps members in 10 

elementary and middle schools across the city. Members work one-on-one or in small 

groups providing proven, data-driven interventions to students struggling with math 

and also providing fun science enrichment activities after-school. Members follow a 

curriculum and conduct progress monitoring to ensure their students are proficient in 

algebra by the end of eighth grade and also work on family engagement. 
19

Although this toolkit is focused on helping schools and school districts access national service resources, in this 

section we highlight some of the ways that your students can benefit from serving in AmeriCorps, regardless 

of whether your district utilizes the programs.

AmeriCorps programs do more than improve schools and communities; they serve their members by providing 

pathways to opportunity for people entering the workforce. Annually, AmeriCorps places more than 75,000 

people into intensive service positions where they learn and apply valuable professional skills, learn about 

career fields, earn money for higher education, develop an appreciation for citizenship, and in some cases 

secure industry or professional certificates.

Benefits of Being an AmeriCorps member

• The ability to make an impact on an issue that they are passionate about.

Ȉ Members can apply to serve with organizations in specific geographic locations and subject areas. 

Ȉ AmeriCorps assignments support a variety of causes, including education, healthy futures, economic 

opportunity, veterans services, environmental stewardship, and disaster services.

• A basic living allowance and financial assistance to help pay for college. AmeriCorps helps address rising 

college costs by providing financial assistance through the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to members 

who complete their service.

Ȉ A full-time AmeriCorps member who successfully completes one full term of service will receive an 

education award equivalent to the Pell Grant. For 2021, this amount is approximately $6,495 after one 

full-time service term. Individuals can earn up to two full-time education awards.

Ȉ Since 1994, AmeriCorps members have earned more than $3.3 billion to help pay for college, technical 

school, or to repay qualified student loans.

• Valuable service experience, job skills, and increased employability. 

Ȉ Members receive specialized training and engage in substantive assignments at their host 

organizations where they gain valuable work-related skills.

Ȉ For many members, AmeriCorps service is their first professional experience. For others, it can be an 

important pathway to re-enter the workforce.

Ȉ A Tufts University study found that for people with a college degree, having AmeriCorps experience 

on a resume has a positive and significant impact on the prospects of getting a job, offering a 

competitive advantage in the workforce.

Ȉ Members can take advantage of initiatives like Employers of National Service, under which employers 

(including Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, government agencies) make a commitment to hiring 

national service alumni.

There are a number of eligibility requirements to serve in an AmeriCorps program, including citizenship and a 

minimum age, which varies slightly based on the program, but is generally at least 17+ years of age. For more 

information, check americorps.gov/serve or contact the National Service Hotline at 1-800-942-2677.

National Service as a Pathway to Education 

and Employment for Students

Career coaches, guidance counselors, families of students, and classroom teachers 

should consider sharing the following link with information about AmeriCorps programs 

with high school students who may be looking for ways to help their communities, pay 

for college, and gain work experience: americorps.gov/serve
20

Appendix A: Examples of How School Districts 

and States Leveraged National Service

Below are historical examples of how school districts across the country utilized AmeriCorps 

programs and members to help students, teachers, and schools.

Overview of Milwaukee Public Schools

• Serves more than 71,000 students across 158 schools.

• Nearly 90 percent of students are minorities.

• 84 percent of students are from low-income backgrounds.

• 69 percent high school graduation rate.

National Service Supporting Milwaukee Public Schools

Milwaukee Public Schools used AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors national service programs to provide 

tutoring, mentoring, classroom instruction, and college access services to its students. The schools effectively 

utilized national service and community partners to support students by promoting collaboration among 

multiple stakeholders.

By partnering with nonprofits to implement national service programs, Milwaukee Public Schools relaunched 

tutoring programs that were discontinued due to budget cuts, provided the support students need to graduate 

from high school, ensured that students continue to be mentored and encouraged as they transition from high 

school to college, and created a pipeline of teachers in high need schools.

Some program highlights include:

Collective Impact Utilizing National Service Programs

A partnership involving Milwaukee Public Schools, two AmeriCorps programs, City Year Milwaukee and 

Teach For America-Milwaukee, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, and other organizations helped support 

students at Dr. George Washington Carver Academy of Mathematics and Science, a K-8 school defined by the 

school district as under-performing. The 5-in-1 Collaborative included a focus on instruction, climate, family 

engagement, and school leadership. This model of collective impact encouraged partners to align goals for 

student success. A 2016 study found increased attendance, improved math and reading scores, and a decrease 

in school suspensions. Based on the success of the collaborative approach, the district expanded the collective 

impact model to other schools in the district.

College Access

College Possible, a nonprofit focused on college readiness, helps Milwaukee students from low-income backgrounds 

get to and graduate from college through an intensive curriculum of coaching and support. The program supports 

students on college campuses and developed deep partnerships with local institutions that made a strong 

commitment to serving students. College Possible works in close partnership with local high schools, 

including Milwaukee public high schools, public charter high schools and private schools.

Milwaukee Public Schools
21

Tutoring and Mentoring

The Interfaith-MPS Tutor Program is a partnership between Milwaukee Public Schools and Interfaith Milwaukee’s 

RSVP Program. The program is volunteer-driven and comes at no cost to the school. Through this collaboration, 

the AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP program connected older adults, ages 55 and older with students and helped 

improve the academic performance and engagement of kindergarten through fifth grade students. 

Prior to the establishment of the Interfaith RSVP program, the MPS Recreation Department had a 55+ Tutor 

Program which was discontinued due to budget cuts. The MPS Recreation Department was able to partner 

with Interfaith’s RSVP program, and the volunteers became a key partner and resource to sustain critical 

tutoring efforts with the public school system that would have been lost due to local budget cuts. Since its 

launch in January 2011, the RSVP program quickly reached and surpassed its initial goal of 150 volunteer 

tutors serving in MPS elementary schools.

Classroom Instruction/Teacher Training

Teach For America buildt a diverse pipeline of high-impact teachers and leaders for high-needs schools across 

Milwaukee. Since 2009, over 500 Teach For America AmeriCorps members have served in Milwaukee schools, 

including nearly 200 members who served specifically in Milwaukee Public Schools. 

Reading by Third Grade and Family Engagement

AmeriCorps members served as part of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee’s Spheres of Proud 

Achievement in Reading for Kids, commonly known as SPARK. Members work with students in preschool 

through third grade who have been identified by their classroom teachers as struggling readers. AmeriCorps 

members implement the SPARK Program by providing one-on-one tutoring sessions and/or small group 

reading activities that build students’ phonemic awareness, phonic skills, reading fluency, vocabulary, and 

text comprehension. Each AmeriCorps member supported five to six students whom he/she met with three 

times per week, for 30-minute sessions, with the goal of improving students’ literacy skills and developing 

strong, consistent relationships with them and their families through home visits and school activities which 

parents and families attend.

What Local Leaders are Saying About National Service

“None of this happens without partnership. When we talk about college and career readiness...that’s 

where our team from the AmeriCorps members have come in to support us, allowing us to build 

a pipeline around students who are receiving support around social-emotional, attendance and 

behavior focused on reducing suspensions.”

– Darienne Driver, Ph.D., former Superintendent

Milwaukee Public Schools

Quoted from the Alliance for Excellent Education’s webinar on leveraging national service to improve low-performing schools 

“The group of students that have worked with the (RSVP) tutors have all had their test scores and 

grades go up. The students are always so excited to see the tutors walk through the door.”

– Aleina Hodnett, MPS teacher
22

Takeaways for Other School Districts

School districts interested in leveraging national service resources can learn the following from MPS’ approach: 

• AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors programs can be implemented in multiple schools across your district.

• Promote collaboration among partners in order to better support student success. As demonstrated 

by Milwaukee’s 5-in-1 Collaborative, which includes two AmeriCorps grantees, bringing in multiple 

organizations to work together and providing a variety of services to students can accelerate academic 

improvement. Collective impact models can maximize the work of individual programs.

• Utilize national service programs to address under-funded areas. By partnering with Interfaith Milwaukee’s 

RSVP program, the school district was able to re-launch its 55+ Tutor Program which had been 

discontinued due to budget cuts.

Overview of Orange County Public Schools

• 9th largest school district in the nation.

• Serves more than 200,000 students across 202 schools.

• Over 70 percent of students are minorities, including 43 percent Hispanic and 24 percent Black.

• 74 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

National Service Supporting Orange County Schools

AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors national service programs supported thousands of Orange County Public 

Schools’ elementary, middle, and high school students throughout the cradle-to-career pipeline. National 

service members provided additional services and support to low-performing schools and underserved student 

populations in 2018. Members worked directly and indirectly with students inside and outside the classroom, 

provide tutoring and mentoring, develop after-school programs, ensure students are in school and on track to 

graduation, and help students apply for college.

Programs had a substantial impact on test scores, graduation rates, and attendance rates. Due in part to support 

from national service members, the school district achieved a 5 percent increase in completed FAFSA applications 

in 2016, making it the top county in Florida by FAFSA completions. Support from national service members has 

been made possible by partnerships between Orange County Public Schools, the City of Orlando, and nonprofits.

Overview of Providence Public Schools

• Serves 22,000 students across 37 schools.

• Over 90 percent of students are minorities, including 68 percent Hispanic, 15 percent Black, and 4 percent Asian.

• 55 percent of students come from homes where English is not the primary language spoken.

• 74 percent high school graduation rate.

Orange County, Fla.

Public Schools

Providence, R.I. 

Public Schools
23

National Service Supporting Providence Public Schools

Providence Public Schools used national service programs to provide early learning, STEM, family engagement, 

social-emotional learning, after-school, teacher training, and classroom instruction services to its students. 

Hundreds of preschool, kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school students benefit every year 

from the services provided by AmeriCorps programs. Some of these programs made a sustained impact in 

Providence for more than a decade.

Some program highlights include:

Early Learning

Jumpstart is a national early education organization providing language, literacy, and social-emotional 

programming for preschool children from under-resourced communities. 

One-on-One Mentoring

The AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program made a long-term commitment to serving kids. 

Currently, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in the Foster Grandparent program work with students from 

kindergarten to third grade. They assisted in the classroom with reading and literacy skills, modeling 

good behavior, tutoring students, and with art and language. The volunteers are a consistent presence 

in the school and teachers and administrators credit them for improved attendance and behavior.

Classroom Instruction/Teacher Training

Teach For America - Rhode Island developed hundreds of AmeriCorps members focused on improving educational 

outcomes for students from low-income backgrounds across the state. Members served across Providence 

County by teaching in high need areas for at least two years. Results from Teach For America’s last iteration of the 

National Principal Survey demonstrated that 94 percent of the principals agreed that Teach For America - Rhode 

Island teachers are making a positive difference in academic achievement, and over 90 percent also agreed 

that teachers are making a positive difference in school culture, collaboration, and relationships with parents.

Takeaways for Other School Districts

School districts interested in leveraging national service resources can learn the following from Providence’s 

approach:

• Consider using national service to provide a long-term, sustained source of services. The AmeriCorps Seniors 

Foster Grandparent program served in the same school for almost 20 years, and many AmeriCorps programs 

such as Jumpstart and Teach For America supported Providence students for more than ten years.

• Encourage your district’s office/staff dedicated to strategic partnerships to coordinate with national service 

programs. This can help ease the implementation process and lead to a stronger impact.

• National service members are adept at dealing with diverse and underserved populations. Members can 

help bridge the gap between staff, students, and families in school districts such as Providence where there 

is large minority population and a significant portion of families for whom English is a second language.

• National service programs support early learning. Programs like Jumpstart can be used to help prepare 

children with the skills they need to enter Kindergarten ready to succeed.

• AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors programs not only support students in schools, but out of school as 

well with after school programs, family engagement, wraparound services, and a variety of other services.
24

A significant portion of national service members serving across the country are serving in rural communities. 

Schools in rural communities may not have the same access to local support and partnerships as schools 

in urban areas, making the presence of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors members an integral part of 

student success. In addition to benefiting students, national service programs create job opportunities for 

their members in areas where there are limited employment opportunities. Programs in Missouri and Kentucky 

demonstrate the impact that national service can have in rural school districts.

Waynesville, Mo.

Overview of the Waynesville R-VI School District

• Serves roughly 6,000 students from central Missouri.

• 73 percent of students are military affiliated.

• Due to a drawdown of soldiers, student enrollment has decreased, leading to decreased state funding.

• One of the most diverse student populations in Missouri. 43 percent of students are minorities, including 

14 percent Black.

• 46 percent of students are from low-income backgrounds.

National Service Supporting the Waynesville R-VI School District

Waynesville R-VI sponsors its own national service programs, meaning that it has applied for and received 

funding for national service members from AmeriCorps. School district staff, including the district’s Community 

Resource Office, supervise and manage its national service members. The district chose to apply for funding 

after determining that AmeriCorps members could increase student learning opportunities in areas of need.

Members provide academic tutoring to students, lead clubs and activities after school, develop community 

initiatives to support disadvantaged students, foster partnerships between community agencies, and promoted 

economic development and growth. Many members are military-connected. District staff report that members 

have contributed to increased student growth, improvement in math and reading proficiency, college and career 

readiness, and have made great strides to help the community with food insecurity.

What Local Leaders are Saying About National Service

Eastern Kentucky

Overview of Eastern Kentucky School Districts

• National service supported multiple counties and school districts in eastern Kentucky, including Bell 

County, Knox County, Perry County, and Leslie County.

Rural School Districts

Waynesville, Mo. • Eastern Kentucky

“We are so grateful for the relationships they (AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps Seniors, and National Veteran 

Corps) build with our students...Our veterans who serve in these roles have the added importance of 

being a military presence in the lives of students whose parent may be deployed overseas.”

– Brian Henry, Ph.D., Superintendent

Waynesville R-VI School District
25

• Schools receiving national service resources were Persistently Low Achieving schools.

• 98 percent of students in Bell, Knox, Perry, and Leslie Counties qualify for free or reduced lunch.

National Service Supporting Kentucky Schools

School districts partnered with Berea College, a college in eastern Kentucky, to support students with 

AmeriCorps resources. Berea College manages programs that use AmeriCorps members to provide school 

turnaround, tutoring/mentoring, and STEM services. As the grantee, the college assumed responsibility 

for applying for funding, deploying members to schools, supervising members, and meeting all other 

grantee requirements.

In 2013, Berea College received AmeriCorps funding for its PartnerCorps School Turnaround program. The 

program had substantial success and was provided additional funding after the original grant cycle. The original 

grant served two Persistently Low Achieving schools, Knox Central High School and Leslie County High School. 

In each school, 20 AmeriCorps members mentored students and assisted them with successfully navigating 

high school and pursuing post-secondary education, with a primary focus on improving attendance. Every 

student was assigned an AmeriCorps mentor.

Berea College also sponsored an AmeriCorps NCCC team through its Partners for Education program. 

Members supported a traveling, Crime Scene Investigation-themed, STEM summer enrichment camp.

What Local Leaders are Saying About National Service

Takeaways for Other School Districts

School districts interested in leveraging national service resources can learn the following from the approach 

taken by rural school districts in Missouri and Kentucky:

• There is more than one way to bring national service members into your district. The Waynesville R-VI 

school district decided to sponsor its own program, while districts in Kentucky have partnered with Berea 

College. The best approach depends on your district’s resources and needs.

• Sponsoring a program: Applying directly as a school district allows you to take full ownership of managing 

funds, defining members’ responsibilities, managing members, and supervising members on a day-to-day 

basis. While this approach allows you to bypass the process of finding a partner, it also allocates additional 

responsibility to your district. As a grantee, you’ll be solely responsible for meeting all grantee requirements 

and expectations pertaining to the program you choose to apply for. The Waynesville R-VI school district 

created an infrastructure for managing funds and members through its Community Resource Office. The 

office’s staff, including its Director of Community Resource/ Alternative Education, Assistant Director of 

National Service, Payroll Generalist/VISTA Supervisor, Grant Financial Specialist, and HR Coordinator 

spend a portion of their time managing AmeriCorps grants. The office defined clear expectations for its 

members and created a handbook with basic expectations for service members to reference during their 

service terms.

• Partnering with a local organization: This approach is particularly beneficial if your district lacks resources 

to manage funds and members. Partners can help apply for funding, manage funds, define member 

responsibilities, supervise members, and collect data for performance measures. Your district will still need 

to work with the partner to identify areas of need and ensure that resources are being allocated effectively. In 

addition to colleges/universities, nonprofits and cities/mayor’s offices are common partners for school districts.

“Our kids face a lot of the same challenges as kids in urban areas...I think schools like in Eastern 

Kentucky and Appalachia in general could really benefit from PartnerCorps. I think we need it. 

I think we can save some kids with PartnerCorps and that’s what it’s all about.”

– Robert Roark, Leslie County High School Principal

from a video with Berea College on PartnerCorps

Learn more
26

National Service Supports Colorado Schools

As part of its effort to improve educational outcomes, Colorado is leveraged national service programs to make 

a more targeted and sustained investment in education. Serve Colorado (Colorado’s State Service Commission) 

and the AmeriCorps Regional Office partnered with local education policy experts and elected officials to 

address a host of education needs, with a particular focus on early childhood education, high school graduation, 

and services for rural youth. As part of its 2016-2018 State Service Plan, Serve Colorado pledged to play its 

part in improving the educational landscape of the state and to support AmeriCorps programs that increase the 

state’s high school graduation rates in the ways that make the most sense for communities throughout Colorado.

AmeriCorps State & National: Across the state, hundreds of AmeriCorps members in the State and National 

program in Colorado supported students. Members are provided tutoring to students below proficiency in 

mathematics; provided evidence-based and targeted interventions to students with attendance problems; improved 

literacy proficiency of kindergarten through third grade students in the highest-need schools through reading tutors; 

leveraged volunteers in projects that improve school climate; and improved interest and engagement in STEM, 

knowledge of potential STEM careers, a more positive attitude toward STEM and academics.

AmeriCorps VISTA: Across the state, AmeriCorps members in the VISTA program, serve in education-related 

positions with K-12 schools, community colleges, and afterschool programs. AmeriCorps members built the 

capacity of nonprofit organizations, schools, and government agencies to bring people out of poverty. In the 

education sector, members serve in K-12 and higher education settings. Activities included developing new 

programs, writing curricula, fundraising, building volunteer programs, forging partnerships, and designing 

evaluation systems. Their ultimate goals were to reduce poverty by increasing school engagement, retention, 

attendance, test scores, and graduation rates.

AmeriCorps Seniors: Across the state, hundreds of AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteers in the Foster Grandparent 

program and RSVP program, are supporting academic achievement. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers served 

students through two programs: Foster Grandparents and RSVP. Foster Grandparents worked with students 

one-on-one in settings primarily including day cares, pre-schools, and K-12 schools. These students may be 

behind academically, have special needs, be considered underserved, or suffer from abuse or neglect. RSVP 

volunteers provide a wide range of activities including tutoring and mentoring students or providing other 

needed volunteer services to schools.

Colorado’s Strategy for Using National Service to Improve Statewide Educational Outcomes 

A national service program that supported increasing graduation rates is the Colorado Youth for a Change 

AmeriCorps Program. Currently, AmeriCorps members provide services to off-track in-school and disengaged 

out-of-school youth and help them reengage and reenroll in school. Members served at many sites within 

Colorado school districts including Aurora, Denver, Englewood, Adams, and Jefferson. AmeriCorps members 

are responsible for helping reenrolled students remain enrolled in an education program and in-school youth 

improve their academic engagement, as measured by increased attendance. In addition, the AmeriCorps 

members leverage additional volunteers who engage in supporting and tutoring in-school youth.

Colorado
27

What State Leaders are Saying About National Service

What can other States Learn from Colorado’s Approach to Leveraging National Service?

• Promote collaboration among multiple stakeholders. Each state has an AmeriCorps Regional Office and 

State Service Commission that provide AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors resources. These agencies 

can bring national service expertise into discussions with elected officials, State Education Agencies, and 

other local leaders who have identified state education priorities. In Colorado, the AmeriCorps Regional 

Office, State Service Commission, elected officials, State Capitol, and Department of Education were all 

engaged in the development national service solutions.

• Evaluate your state’s current national service landscape to identify communities where the level of funding/

resources may not match the need for additional education services. Colorado mapped the allocation of 

national service investments as a starting point for its discussions with local leaders.

• Align national service with your state’s priorities/challenges. By evaluating the allocation of national service 

investments vs. unmet state education needs, Colorado identified early childhood education, high school 

graduation, and services for rural youth as needs that national service could be used to address.

• Prioritize areas in your state where the need is greatest. In Colorado, communities with the lowest 

graduation rates were prioritized for the development and implementation of AmeriCorps NCCC projects.

• Projects that would benefit from an infusion of energy may be a good fit for national service. National 

service programs provide additional support for students without displacing educators and staff.

“AmeriCorps members all across the state, from Denver to Durango, helped improve results in the lives 

of their students and the communities they work in. They did this by bringing optimism, excitement 

and energy to the classroom and serving as in-class role models. They are an invaluable resource 

to our state and we are exceptionally proud of their service.”

– Donna Lynne, former Lieutenant Governor

State of Colorado

“We are incredibly grateful to our AmeriCorps members who devote their time and effort to serve as 

mentors, helping students with math, reading and other knowledge they need to graduate ready for 

college and careers. For many schools across Colorado, AmeriCorps is a vital partner in our mission 

to ensure equity and opportunity for every student, every step of the way.”

– Katy Anthes, Ph.D., Colorado Commissioner of Education
28

National Service Supports Minnesota Schools

AmeriCorps State & National: AmeriCorps State and National members in Minnesota support students throughout 

the cradle to career pipeline. Members engaged with students from the time they begin learning to the time they 

enter college, providing early learning, reading by third grade, 8th grade math proficiency, high school completion, 

and college access services. Members are serving in hundreds of sites and across many focus areas including:

• Ready for Kindergarten

• Third Grade Reading Proficiency

AmeriCorps VISTA: Across the state, 70 AmeriCorps members in the VISTA program serve in educationrelated positions with K-12 schools, community colleges, and after-school programs. Members built the 

capacity of nonprofit organizations, schools, and government agencies to bring people out of poverty.

In the education sector, AmeriCorps members serve in K-12 and higher education settings. Activities include 

developing new programs, writing curricula, fundraising, building volunteer programs, forging partnerships, 

and designing evaluation systems. Their ultimate goals are to reduce poverty through increasing school 

engagement, retention, attendance, test scores, and graduation rates.

AmeriCorps Seniors: Throughout Minnesota, hundreds of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in the Foster Grandparent 

and RSVP programs support academic achievement. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve students through 

two programs: Foster Grandparents and RSVP. Foster Grandparents work with students one-on-one in settings 

primarily including day cares, pre-schools, and K-12 schools. These students may be behind academically, have 

special needs, be considered underserved, or suffer from abuse or neglect. RSVP volunteers provide a wide range 

of activities including tutoring and mentoring students or providing other needed volunteer services to schools.

Minnesota’s Strategy for Using National Service to Improve Education Outcomes:

Minnesota Reading and Math Corps

In 2002, ServeMinnesota worked with a Minnesota state legislator to better understand statewide education issues 

and develop ways to utilize national service as a strategy to address critical state needs. Then-state legislator 

Alice Seagren, the Chair of the Minnesota House’s K-12 finance committee, was interested in finding ways to 

improve the state’s persistently low early literacy rates. She saw value in the unique capacity of AmeriCorps to 

provide extra support for students, and proposed that the State Service Commission match the people power of 

AmeriCorps with a data-driven model designed by literacy experts to address reading challenges across the state.

In 2003, Minnesota’s state legislature allocated $150,000 to implement the new program, now known as Minnesota 

Reading Corps. The program began by working with students in Head Start. Following early success, it expanded to 

include K-3 reading programs in order to ensure Minnesota students were reading by third grade. As school districts 

began to see the impact the program was making, and evaluations demonstrated the effectiveness of the program, 

Minnesota’s state legislature increased appropriations, growing from $150,000 in 2003 to nearly $8 million in 

2017. Since 2003, Minnesota Reading Corps has provided early intervention services to more than 200,000 

age 3 – grade 3 students.

ServeMinnesota and the Minnesota Reading Corps work closely with the Minnesota Department of Education 

to implement the program across the state. Appropriations for Minnesota Reading Corps flow through the 

state education agency, which has included the program as part of its budget. The program works closely 

with the agency to understand its policy objectives and align priorities and resources with those objectives.

Minnesota

• 8th Grade Math Proficiency • College Admission

• High School Completion
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By using AmeriCorps members to implement an “out of the box” solution developed by literacy experts, the 

state legislature was able to achieve its goal of improving literacy without a significant additional cost burden 

on school districts. Following expansion in Minnesota, Reading Corps expanded nationally, and is now in 

8 states. Building on the success of the model, the Minnesota Math Corps was created in 2008 to help 

8th graders prepare for and improve in algebra.

Minnesota Alliance with Youth

The Minnesota Alliance with Youth’s Promise Fellow program started as part of the GradNation campaign 

led by America’s Promise Alliance to end the nation’s dropout crisis. Minnesota Alliance with Youth engages 

more than 200 AmeriCorps Promise Fellows who serve in middle schools, high schools, and community based 

organizations across the state to reduce high school drop-out rates with interventions focused on attendance, 

behavior, and coursework.

What Local Leaders are Saying About National Service

Takeaways for Other States: What State Education Agencies, State Legislators, and other Public 

Officials can learn from Minnesota’s Approach to Leveraging National Service

• Align national service with your state’s education priorities and challenges. Governors, State education 

officials, and state legislators can work with their State Service Commissions and AmeriCorps Regional 

Office to figure out how national service can be used to address critical education needs in the state. 

From Kindergarten readiness, reading by third grade, to high school graduation and college and career 

success, national service is a strategy that can be utilized to support students across the state.

• Using national service as a statewide solution can benefit multiple stakeholders:

Ȉ State Education Agencies can add national service programs to their budget and/or leverage programs 

to advance their policy objectives,

Ȉ Legislators can use national service to help create low-cost solutions to challenges they have identified,

Ȉ And State Service Commissions can expand the reach and impact of their programs.

• Projects that would benefit from an infusion of energy may be a good fit for national service. National service 

programs provide additional support for students and educators without displacing educators and staff.

• Encourage participation by your state’s education/policy experts when developing solutions. Bringing 

together knowledgeable experts and national service resources can lead to more sustainable, replicable, 

and impactful solutions.

• Look for programs that are scalable by using an existing evidence based approach/model or creating a new 

model that can be replicated by multiple schools across the state. Look for programs that are moving the 

needle for students and can be implemented across the state wherever they can help meet a need.

• Match the people power of national service programs with your scalable solution. ServeMinnesota leveraged 

literacy experts to develop the model for Minnesota Reading Corps, and relied upon AmeriCorps members 

to implement the model in schools across the state. Reading Corps started as a small program and now 

tutors serve in hundreds of elementary school and preschool settings across Minnesota.

• State Service Commissions and AmeriCorps Regional Offices can serve as a bridge between schools, 

education policy experts, and legislators/public officials. When designing a national service solution, 

State Commissions and AmeriCorps Regional Offices can act as an intermediary to convene multiple 

stakeholders while providing a depth of knowledge of national service programs.

“Reading Corps and Math Corps not only helped our students learn how to read and perform better 

in math, these AmeriCorps programs also saved our district in special education costs.”

– Julia Espe, Ph.D., former Superintendent

Princeton Public Schools
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Contact Us

Contact details: AmeriCorps Regional Office

Contact details: State Commissions

Contact details: AmeriCorps NCCC Regions

250 E St SW

Washington, DC 20525

AmeriCorps.gov