Program Descriptions
Program Number
94.004
Title
Learn And Serve America-School And Community Based Programs
Federal Agency
CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Authorization
National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended.
Status
Active
Objectives
To encourage elementary and secondary schools and community-based agencies to create, develop, and offer service- learning opportunities for school- age youth; educate teachers about service- learning and incorporate service-learning opportunities into classrooms to enhance academic learning; coordinate adult volunteers in schools; and introduce young people to a broad range of careers and encourage them to pursue further education and training.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Grant funds may be used for a wide range of activities including: planning and capacity building; operating and expanding service-learning programs through grants to local partnerships; implementing and expanding school-based programs involving adult volunteers to use service-learning to improve the education of students; and providing training and technical assistance to qualified organizations. Corporation assistance may not be used to provide religious instruction, conduct worship services or engage in any form of proselytization; to assist, promote, or deter union organizing; to finance, directly or indirectly, any activity designed to influence the outcome of an election to any public office; or to impair existing contracts for service of collective bargaining agreements.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
State education agencies, State Commissions on National Service, U.S. Territories, Indian tribes, and public or private nonprofit entities may apply.
Beneficiary Eligibility
School-based program participants must be enrolled in elementary or secondary school. Community-based program participants must be between the ages of 5 and 17.
Credentials/Documentation
None.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Applicants should contact the Corporation for specific instructions. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
Contact the Corporation for specific details.
Award Procedure
Contact the Corporation for specific details.
Deadlines
Contact the Corporation for specific details.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
A range has not been established.
Appeals
None.
Renewals
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
The Corporation's share of the total cost of carrying out a funded program may not exceed 90 percent for the first program year; 80 percent for the second year; 70 percent for the third year; 50 percent for the fourth and any subsequent year.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Grants are for up to a 3- year period. Funding is awarded on an annual basis subject to annual review and the availability of funds.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Reports should be made as required by Law.
Audits
Audits must be performed as required by the Law.
Records
Records are required to be maintained as spelled out in the individual grant.
Financial Information
Account Identification
95-2720-0-1-506.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 07 $25,616,000; FY 08 est not available; and FY 09 est not reported.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
From $20,000 to $2,376,360; $298,610.
Program Accomplishments
In fiscal year 2002, it is estimated that Learn and Serve America: School and Community based programs engaged over 1,500,000 school-age youth in service-learning programs in local schools and communities nationwide. These programs provide opportunities for youth to learn and develop while addressing unmet needs in the areas of education, public safety, health, and environment. To accomplish the program's overarching goals of promoting academic excellence, fostering civic responsibility, and impacting communities, the Corporation has identified five programmatic priorities. The priorities are building capacity and an infrastructure to promote and support high quality service-learning efforts; forming partnerships with other educational improvement initiatives; qualitative/quantitative research and evaluation; linking service-learning to other types of national and community service efforts; and forming partnerships with citizen groups, community organizations and institutions of higher education. To ensure the quality of Learn and Serve America: School and Community based programs, the Corporation will provide guidance and technical assistance to funded agencies and organizations, and others interested in expanding service learning opportunities.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Contact the Corporation's Headquarters Office. The Corporation's requirements for Learn and Serve America are set forth in the regulations published in the Federal Register on March 23, 1994, CFR 2515 to 2519.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a list of regional offices.
Headquarters Office
Corporation for National and Community Service, 1201 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20525. Telephone: (202) 606-6715.
Web Site Address
http://www.nationalservice.org
Related Programs
None.
Examples of Funded Projects
In a Minnesota service-learning program, high school students visit the St. Louis River as part of a chemistry class to test water quality and initiate local pollution control. Third graders, in an Indiana program, spend time with seniors in nursing homes. Information is gathered and friends are made of long- time residents of their community as part of an English Project for a book on local history.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Grant application are reviewed against the following criteria: (1) Program design (2) organizational capacity, and (3) budget/cost-effectiveness.
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