DATE: July 25, 2013
CONTACT: Elizabeth Darling, 512-287-2062, liz@onestarfoundation.org
Austin Independent School District to Receive School Turnaround AmeriCorps Grant
$1,194,000 over three years will allow Austin ISD to place 90 AmeriCorps members at two Central Texas schools
AUSTIN, TX – OneStar Foundation announced today that two Texas schools in the Austin Independent School District (ISD) will benefit from the new School Turnaround AmeriCorps program, a highly competitive grant opportunity and an innovative partnership between the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).
Austin ISD is 1 of 13 awardees selected from 66 applicants from around the country. The 13 awardees will place 650 AmeriCorps members across the country in approximately 70 schools in communities which are implementing school turnaround interventions as required by ED’s School Improvement Grant (SIG) program or as required through Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) flexibility. Austin ISD AmeriCorps members will provide dropout prevention services at Reagan and Travis High Schools through activities to increase learning time; improve community engagement; and support the social, emotional, and behavioral health of students, their families and the community.
“We look forward to partnering with Austin ISD to bring this initiative to Texas,” said Elizabeth Darling, CEO and President of OneStar Foundation. “We are proud to see that Texas schools are committed to using innovative public-private partnerships like AmeriCorps to improve student – and campus-wide – achievement.”
Austin ISD will receive a total of $1,194,000 over the next three years to place 90 School Turnaround AmeriCorps members at Reagan and Travis High Schools beginning fall 2013.
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OneStar Foundation is the Governor-designated National Service Commission in Texas and administers the AmeriCorps*State grant program. The Governor-appointed Board members oversee the legal and policy governance of the AmeriCorps*Texas program portfolio. OneStar Foundation connects partners and resources to build a stronger nonprofit sector in Texas. Learn more at onestarfoundation.org.
AmeriCorps is a national service program administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages more than 5 million Americans in service each year and administers United We Serve, the President’s call to service. Individuals can learn about available opportunities and apply online by visiting AmeriCorps.gov.
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