A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Federal Work-Study and Community Service Award Year 2000-2001 and the America Reads Challenge

History of the America Reads Challenge

• In an effort to increase the reading proficiency among America's youth, the Administration in 1997 launched the America Reads Challenge with one major objective: to have all children reading well and independently by the end of the third grade.

• During the first full year of the program, in award year 1997-98, 790 postsecondary institutions participated in the America Reads Challenge. As of July 1, 2000, nearly 1,400 postsecondary insitutions voluntarily accepted the America Reads Challenge and participated in reading or family literacy tutoring efforts.

Federal Work-Study Waiver

• Currently, there are 3,300 institutions receiving Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program funds. The FWS Program funds provide part-time employment to approximately 942,000 students, as part of their financial aid package, to help pay for their education.

• In 1997, as one response by the federal government to the Challenge, the Secretary of Education initiated the America Reads Federal Work-Study Waiver. FWS Program funds can be used to pay up to 100 percent of the wages for any FWS student who is tutoring preschool age or elementary school children in reading. Higher education institutions do not have to make a request to the U.S. Department of Education to use this waiver.

• Beginning with the 1998-99 award year, the FWS waiver of the institutional matching requirement was extended to tutoring in Family Literacy Programs. Family Literacy Programs offer opportunities for FWS students to tutor preschool age and elementary school children, as well as their parents and caregivers.

• Effective October 28, 1999 (the date of publication of the FWS regulations) Family Literacy services were expanded to activities beyond tutoring. Institutions may pay a Federal share of up to 100 percent for a FWS student employed in a Family Literacy Project that provides services to families with preschool age or elementary school children. In addition to tutoring, family literacy activities may include training tutors, performing administrative tasks such as coordinating tutors' schedules, working as an instructional aide or preparing family literacy materials.

• Beginning with the 1999-2000 award year, the waiver of the institutional matching requirement was extended to FWS students employed under America Counts. America Counts provides mathematics tutors for students in elementary through ninth grade.

Community Service Requirement

• Institutions receiving FWS funds for award year 1994-95 through 1999-2000 were required to use at least five percent of their total annual Federal allocation (initial and supplemental) to pay the wages of FWS students employed in community service jobs.

• Beginning July 1, 2000, an institution is required to use seven percent of the total amount of the FWS funds to compensate students employed in community service activities.

• In meeting the seven percent community service requirement, an institution must ensure that one or more of its FWS students is employed:
  • As a reading tutor for preschool or elementary school children or
  • In a Family Literacy Project
    

Training for Tutors

• It is recommended that FWS students employed as reading or mathematics tutors be given high quality training prior to and during their service. Training may be provided by the school district, by the university, by a literacy organization or coalition of organizations or agencies receiving tutors. The FWS student may be paid for a reasonable amount of time spent in training.

Support from the America Reads Challenge in the U.S. Department of Education

• The America Reads Challenge in the U.S. Department of Education assists universities by providing the following services: an updated website, recruitment brochures, tutor training materials, an on-line directory, an interactive listserv, and electronic Federal Work-Study Updates.

• Access to the America Reads Challenge may be made via the website at www.ed.gov/americareads/ or phone (202) 401-8888 or 1-800 -USA -LEARN, or fax (202) 260-8114 or e-mail americareads@ed.gov

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