U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will participate in City Year’s National Leadership Summit at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C. He will give remarks during the opening plenary “In School and On Track: City Year’s Long-Term Strategy,” and will highlight the importance of the “Together for Tomorrow” program, an initiative that spotlights and fosters partnerships among schools, families, national service programs, and community-based organizations in order to help turn around low-performing schools.” Duncan also will discuss strategies to reduce dropout rates—particularly the importance of vibrant community-wide partnerships and early warning systems in middle school and high school that help teachers and parents keep students on track to graduate.
The three-day summit, which will take place through Wednesday, May 16, will convene national and local leaders from the education, business, government, and philanthropic communities to discuss the role that national service can play in helping to turn around low-performing schools.
Founded in 1998, City Year is wholly focused on fighting the national dropout crisis. At its 21 locations across the United States, teams of diverse young people called corps members serve full time in schools for 10 months working to improve student attendance, behavior and course performance in English and math. As tutors, mentors and role models, corps members help students and schools succeed through:
- Academic Suppo: Provide one-on-one or small group tutoring before, during and after school
- Attendance and Positive Behavior Encouragement: Lead energetic morning greetings, make attendance and positive phone calls home and lead mentor groups
- Community and School Improvements: Organize and lead activities, celebrations and projects to improve the community and school environment which includes performing physical service such as: painting murals, planting community gardens, renovating schools and refurbishing community centers
City Year is also a partner in a five-year, $30 million grant from the Department’s Investing in Innovation (i3) program that is focusing on turning around “dropout factories” in 14 school districts.