FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ranit Schmelzer, ranit@schmelzerstrategies.com
Washington, DC (March 1, 2022) – Below is a statement from AnnMaura Connolly, President of Voices for National Service, on President Biden’s call in the State of the Union to help children who have fallen behind in school during the pandemic.
“Tonight, President Biden laid out his plan to address student mental health and wellness, including efforts to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student learning. As part of this effort, he called for an investment in strategies to help our students recover and asked Americans across the country to take on roles as tutors and mentors.
“This is precisely the role AmeriCorps members currently fulfill in nearly 12,000 schools in systemically under-resourced communities across the country. Schools and districts are collaborating with AmeriCorps members to help address the impacts of the pandemic, from supporting physical health and safety, to building school communities, to supporting the students’ social, emotional, and academic development.
“AmeriCorps programs including City Year, Reading Partners, College Possible, Notre Dame Mission Volunteers and so many others, have been in the schools, literally and virtually, since the start of the pandemic responding to the unprecedented needs of students, teachers, and administrators. The diverse Americans serving through AmeriCorps have already made an extraordinary difference – as teachers, schools, and students have grappled with the myriad challenges presented by the pandemic – and they are poised to do even more in the months and years ahead.
“We need a National Corps for Student Success powered by AmeriCorps and community volunteers to ensure that the right students get the right supports at the right scale and intensity. We need more tutors, mentors, and student success coaches. We need more boots on the ground to help our young people recover and thrive. This is a sweet spot for AmeriCorps.
“President Biden has called on Americans to serve our students and their recovery and I encourage those who are interested in answering his call to action to consider joining AmeriCorps. If there was ever a time to lean into AmeriCorps, it’s now.”
In February 2021, over 100 leaders in education, civil rights, and youth development joined together to determine what is needed to support young people as they recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The result was a National Corps for Student Success, which you can learn about here.
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Voices for National Service is a diverse coalition of national service programs, state service commissions and individual champions, who work to ensure Americans of all ages and backgrounds have the opportunity to serve and volunteer in their community. Founded in 2003, Voices for National Service has built strong bipartisan support among our nation’s leaders and helped to elevate national service as a powerful strategy for tackling unmet needs, preparing young people for work, uniting our country and developing civic character.