AmeriCorps*Texas
Through AmeriCorps*Texas, OneStar administers grants to nonprofits, public agencies, and faith-based and community organizations to bring AmeriCorps members to their communities. The organizations that receive AmeriCorps*Texas grants are responsible for recruiting, selecting and supervising AmeriCorps members to serve in their programs.
AmeriCorps awards member positions and program operating funds to organizations to further the goals of AmeriCorps and to provide service to address local unmet needs. Grants support organizations that use volunteer service as a strategy for addressing national and community needs, while fostering an ethic of civic responsibility.
AmeriCorps*Texas and Education
By 2040, 3.8 million more students may be added to Texas schools, stressing an already challenged educational system. Without investments in the success of our youth, the need for social service programs could quickly outpace the State's and the nonprofit sector's ability to provide services.
To help Texas youth achieve educational success, OneStar Foundation is investing an anticipated $45 million in 2009-2012 AmeriCorps*Texas grant funding to eligible organizations. All funded programs must focus on improving literacy and standardized test scores, increasing graduation rates and attainment of a post secondary degree and strengthening additional educational priorities over a three-year period.
OneStar's innovative funding approach will include the following requirements:
- For the 2009-2012 grant period, eligible programs would be those that have as a primary goal, and measure the results of, educational success of youth.
- The applicant's goals are targeted toward evidence based outcomes that measure educational attainment levels:
- Increase school-readiness rates among children;
- Improve literacy rates among youth;
- Improve attendance rates;
- Earn higher standardized test scores;
- Raise GPA in core curriculum subjects (e.g. math, reading);
- Decrease number of students that repeat the 3rd or 9th grade (i.e. increase grade retention);
- Increase enrollment in postsecondary education;
- Improve attainment of postsecondary degree;
- Increase rate in attainment of high school diploma and/or high school equivalency; and
- Other goals than listed above that measure increased educational attainment.
- The applicant organization will have at least the equivalent of 20 full-time AmeriCorps members (e.g. 20 MSYs).
Additional Resources
Additional resources for current AmeriCorps members
Though not all are administered by OneStar, these programs are important partners for national service initiatives in Texas.
