Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Welcome to Corps18!

Corps18 VISTA's create and develop exciting out-of-school programing that encourages kids to come to school throughout America!
 
 
 
Directly addressing chronic absenteeism throughout the US, the name Corps18 was created to highlight the number of days a student is considered chronically absent within a school year (18 days). 
 
Members help to create a culture of good attendance by developing high quality programming while strengthening connections between schools, parents, students, and the overall community. 
 


WHY it MATTERS.

Every year, one in 10 kindergarten and 1st grade students misses a month of school with excused and unexcused absences. By middle and high school, the rates of chronic absence are far higher. Starting in kindergarten, these absences can affect academic achievement, especially for low-income students unable to make up for lost time, research shows. They can leave children unable to read well by the end of 3rd grade, exacerbating the achievement gap. And they can set a pattern of poor attendance and academic failure for older students, fueling the dropout rate. (Attendance Works.org, 2013)
 
 
 
Volunteers in Service to America! 
 
 

Founded in 1965 the Americorps VISTA program serves to eliminate poverty in America by connecting passionate volunteers with programs like Corps18.  The VISTA program along with its program sponsors, provide guidance and training so that members have the tools to create sustainable programming within low-income communities.
 
Members sign on for a 1 year commitment and become volunteers and compassionate community members for life.