Youth Engagement Zones

Deadline for Letter of Intent to Apply: May 28, 2010
Deadline for applications: June 15, 2010

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:

1. 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

2. Connecting with citizens from diverse communities, backgrounds and perspectives to provide expanded opportunities to serve; and

3. 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.

Letters of Intent to Apply

If you intend to apply, please send an email to YEZ@cns.gov by May 28, 2010.

Fore more information (including forthcoming application instructions), see:
http://www.nationalservice.gov/for_organizations/funding/nofa_detail.asp?tbl_nofa_id=82