FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jun 17, 2015

660 AmeriCorps members will serve K-12 students in Jacksonville, Miami, and Orlando  
 
Tallahassee, Fla. – The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency that administers AmeriCorps, announced new investments of $15.4 million to support AmeriCorps members who will increase student achievement, high school graduation rates, and career readiness in Florida. 
 
As part of the announcement, CNCS is awarding $5.7 million in competitive grants to eight education-focused organizations in the Jacksonville, Miami, and Orlando. The funding will support 667 AmeriCorps members who will teach, tutor, mentor, and provide other services to students in high-need schools.
 
The federal investment also includes $3.6 million in education awards that AmeriCorps members receive after completing their service to pay for college or repay student loans. An additional $6 million will be distributed later this summer to Florida nonprofits through Volunteer Florida, the Governor-appointed service commission for the state of Florida. The federal investment will generate an additional $15 million local matching support to increase the impact of AmeriCorps in the community. 
 
“AmeriCorps members make a powerful impact on the toughest challenges facing our nation,” said CNCS CEO Wendy Spencer.  “Building on Florida’s strong tradition of neighbor helping neighbor, AmeriCorps members will ensure that more Florida students succeed in school and in life. As they serve others, AmeriCorps members will also expand opportunity for themselves - gaining skills and experience to jumpstart their careers.” 
 
Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said, "Our state's students are ranked among the best in the nation, evidence that our investment in education is truly paying off. This is a phenomenal opportunity for Florida's students, and I am proud for DOE to partner with Volunteer Florida and the Corporation for National and Community Service on this collaborative effort."
 
“As Florida’s lead agency for volunteerism and national service, we are thrilled to announce this funding for Florida schools and students,” said Volunteer Florida CEO Chester Spellman.  “We grateful for CNCS’ investment in the Sunshine State, and we appreciate the support of Governor Scott and Commissioner Stewart, who have truly been champions for education. We are especially proud of Volunteer Florida’s tremendous focus on education – putting AmeriCorps members to work in over 55,000 Florida schools – which continues to show strong results, such as improved student performance in math and literacy through our mentoring and tutoring programs.” 
 
Below are the AmeriCorps grants for Florida: 
 
Jacksonville
 
  • University of North Florida—Jacksonville Teacher Residency: AmeriCorps members will use mentor teaching to bolster student engagement and increase educational attainment in STEM education in high-need schools in Jacksonville.  ($369,258 grant; 30 members)
     
  • City Year Jacksonville: AmeriCorps members will provide in-school and after-school tutoring and support to at-risk third through ninth grade students, resulting in improvements in academic achievement, behavior, and school attendance. Members will serve in ten high-need public schools in Jacksonville.  ($1,120,568 grant; 100 members)
 
Miami
 
  • Teach for America Miami: Members will serve as full-time teachers in over 35 low-income schools in Miami-Dade County, Florida to improve the educational outcomes for over 22,000 students.  ($154,400 grant, 193 AmeriCorps members)
     
  • City Year Miami: AmeriCorps members will provide in-school and after-school tutoring and mentoring to 9th-10th grade students, resulting in increased numbers of students staying in school and on track to graduate. The program will serve six high schools in Miami-Dade, Florida. ($776,530 grant, 67 members)
     
  • Communities In Schools of Miami—AmeriCorps Student Turnaround Project: AmeriCorps members provide tutoring, mentoring and wraparound support services to increase educational achievement in five low-performing Miami-Dade County public schools. ($247,060 grant; 35 members)
 
Orlando
 
  • City of Orlando—O-PASS: Under the Governor's/Mayor's Initiative, AmeriCorps members will provide in-school and after-school tutoring, mentoring, and wrap-around support services to low-income students resulting in increased education achievement levels for students. The program will serve 16 community centers and public middle schools in Orlando. ($404,305 grant; 32 AmeriCorps members)
     
  • City Year Orlando: AmeriCorps members will provide academic services that support students in improving academic performance and engagement at nine public schools in Orlando.  ($560,284 grant, 50 members)
     
  • Operation AmeriCorps Orlando: Orlando’s Operation AmeriCorps program, one of just 10 in the nation, will engage 160 AmeriCorps members over two years in providing in-school and out of school support to students and ensure they go onto one of five opportunities: college, service in the military, AmeriCorps national service, a job or paid internship.  ($2,139,302 over two years; 160 members over 2 years)
The funding announced today builds on CNCS’ existing investment of $39 million in communities across Florida. These federal dollars leverage an additional $15.9 million in other resources. This funding supports more than 15,200 AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers serving at nearly 1,800 locations who tutor and mentor children, support veterans and military families, provide health services, restore the environment, and more. 
 

AmeriCorps, a federal agency, brings people together to tackle the country's most pressing challenges through national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. AmeriCorps helps make service to others a cornerstone of our national culture. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.