Special thanks to Brad Lewis for passing this notice on:
The Learn and Serve America Youth Engagement Zone (YEZ) program was newly
authorized by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. YEZ is designed to
improve student engagement, including student attendance and behavior, and
student achievement, graduation rates and college-going rates by:
- Engaging youth as positive contributors through service-learning to demonstrate the relevance of academic coursework and the value of civic engagement to their educational and personal development; and
- Connecting with citizens from diverse communities, backgrounds and perspectives to provide expanded opportunities to serve; and
- Building enduring capacity within communities to become more effective at using service as a solution to address pressing challenges.
These grants will provide support for “eligible partnerships” to build on
existing resources to develop coordinated school-based or community-based
service-learning opportunities for secondary school students. All partnerships
must include, at a minimum, at least one LEA, one community college, and one
community-based entity.
Funding Available
In Fiscal Year 2010, there is approximately $5.4 million available for this
program. The Corporation anticipates making an estimated 4 to 12 grant awards
that will range from approximately $300,000 to $450,000 per year for up to three
years. Funding beyond the first year for each grant award will be subject to the
availability of future appropriations. We anticipate announcing the results of
this competition in mid September 2010.
Deadline
Applications are due no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on June 15, 2010.
Applications must arrive at the Corporation by the deadline in order to be
considered.
In terms of technology, please also note
the following allowable activity:
Supporting the use of the most compelling,
freely-available technology for children and youth. This may include use of the
most innovative approaches to service and learning through social networks,
games and mobile devices.
