The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act provides the most significant expansion of national service and volunteer opportunities for middle and high school students in generations.
It will help our nation get through the economic crisis by making Americans of all ages a part of the solution to the many challenges facing the nation, including education. The bill will both increase opportunities for students to get involved with service and boost service initiatives focused on education, including mentoring programs and programs that help boost student achievement. This is the largest expansion of national service since President Kennedy issued his call to service over fifty years ago.
It will help our nation get through the economic crisis by making Americans of all ages a part of the solution to the many challenges facing the nation, including education. The bill will both increase opportunities for students to get involved with service and boost service initiatives focused on education, including mentoring programs and programs that help boost student achievement. This is the largest expansion of national service since President Kennedy issued his call to service over fifty years ago.
Young Americans have a growing interest in service: In 2008, more than
a quarter of Americans over the age of 16 volunteered. Research shows
that youth who engage in service and volunteerism are more likely to be
altruistic adults, and more likely to say they’ll pursue college.
To give more young Americans the opportunity to get involved, the GIVE Act will create a Summer of Service Program to engage middle and high school students in volunteer activities in their communities. In return for their service contributions, students will earn a $500 education award to put toward getting a college education.
It also will establish new Youth Engagement Zones, service learning programs that will build partnerships between community-based organizations and schools to help high school students and out-of-school youth address specific challenges, especially in low-income communities.
Overall, the bill (H.R. 1388) will more than triple the number of volunteer opportunities for Americans of all ages, from 75,000 to 250,000, and establishes a new service corps focused on education. It will also increase the education reward participants receive from $4,725 to $5,350 for next year, the same as the maximum Pell Grant scholarship award.
To give more young Americans the opportunity to get involved, the GIVE Act will create a Summer of Service Program to engage middle and high school students in volunteer activities in their communities. In return for their service contributions, students will earn a $500 education award to put toward getting a college education.
It also will establish new Youth Engagement Zones, service learning programs that will build partnerships between community-based organizations and schools to help high school students and out-of-school youth address specific challenges, especially in low-income communities.
Overall, the bill (H.R. 1388) will more than triple the number of volunteer opportunities for Americans of all ages, from 75,000 to 250,000, and establishes a new service corps focused on education. It will also increase the education reward participants receive from $4,725 to $5,350 for next year, the same as the maximum Pell Grant scholarship award.
Many service opportunities and needs exist that are faith based in our communities. Will these types of services be excluded under the new administration?
Faith-based programs will not be excluded.