Schools wrapping up what’s been labeled the first “normal” year since the pandemic, but the reality is that students are far from normal, academically and emotionally. Thankfully, there’s an abundance of resources available for K12 schools to seek help from their local colleges and universities.
In a “Dear Colleague” letter issued this week, U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona addresses university and school leaders encouraging them to work together using Federal Work-Study and other federal resources to “increase the number of college students supporting school-aged children and youth as tutors, mentors, student success coaches, and other student support roles in our nation’s schools and out-of-school time programs,” the letter reads.
President Joe Biden has called for 250,000 Americans to serve as tutors and mentors to support K12 students through the National Partnership for Student Success (NPSS). This initiative, in partnership with AmeriCorps and the Johns Hopkins University Everyone Graduates Center, helps high school graduates prepare and transition to life post-graduation.
Now, Cardona’s letter encourages districts to rely on Federal Work-Study funds to expand this initiative. Through this program, college students eligible for Title IV aid would be given part-time employment working with their local K12 schools as tutors or mentors in high-needs roles.
So far, there are 26 colleges and universities that have committed to using these funds to send more students to their local schools.
“I applaud the 26 colleges and universities that are leading the way as early adopters of this effort by answering the call and partnering with the National Partnership for Student Success in this work,” Cardona said in a statement. “By serving as tutors and mentors, college students can make a positive difference in the lives of children and youth, and ultimately, it is in the best interests of our colleges and universities to help accelerate academic recovery in our public elementary and secondary schools.”
Cardona encourages school districts to look to their local and regional colleges and universities, as well as other local government agencies and community-based organizations that can place “caring adults” in NPSS roles.
University leaders are urged to spend at least 15% of their FWS funds to deploy their students and increase pay rates for those participating. Additionally, higher ed institutions should share data with the NPSS on the number of students serving, including those receiving FWS support or other programs.
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