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Save the date National & Global Youth Service Day 2007 is April 20-22.

Save Learn and Serve America!

In his February 5th budget request to Congress, the President proposed deepening last year's funding cut to Learn and Serve America by more than $5 million -- down to $32.1 million. If Congress adopts this cut, it would continue a severe downward trend from the program's traditional level of $43 million, initiated by the first major cut to $37.1 million in Fiscal Year 2006.

If enacted, the additional proposed cuts in the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Request for Learn and Serve America could mean:

A 14% funding cut of $5 million;
More than 195,000 youth losing the opportunity to serve through Learn and Serve America;
A loss of $66 million in services to communities; and
A loss of 3.7 million service hours to communities.

Although the President's budget request signals only the beginning of the congressional appropriations process, it is important to act now to demonstrate the value of service-learning to members of Congress and to educate them about the potential consequences of such a severe cut.

You can start the conversation with your Senators and Representatives by personalizing and sending them the message below. Feel free to use as much or as little of the sample text as you like, but the most important thing is that your elected officials understand the importance and value of Learn and Serve America to you, your school, and your community. For more information and background, click "Tell me more" below.

Tell me more

Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

(Edit Letter Below)

I am writing to urge you to restore Learn and Serve America's funding to its traditional level of $43 million in Fiscal Year 2008 and reject the proposed cut to $32.1 million included in the Administration's budget request.

Learn and Serve America is a national program of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) that supports service-learning by making through grants and technical assistance to states, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and non-profit organizations. This program engages more than 1.4 million young people in 27 million combined hours of service-learning each year.

Service-learning is currently in 33% of all K-12 schools, and a national study of Learn and Serve America programs suggests that effective service-learning programs improve grades, increase attendance in school, and develop students' personal and social responsibility.  Additionally, at a cost of only $26 per participant, Learn and Serve America leverages private and community resources to yield $4 in services to the community for each $1 invested by the government.

Service-learning continues to receive broad support from prominent education and community groups. The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), the National Middle School Association (NMSA), the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), and over 400 other local and national community organizations continue to advocate for service-learning and seek restored funding for Learn and Serve America.

Yet, despite this support, Learn and Serve America, the only federal program dedicated to funding service-learning, faces another cut. In Fiscal Year 2006, the program sustained a major cut to $37.1 million -- its first in a decade -- which put in jeopardy the sustainability of service-learning programs across the country. Now, in Fiscal Year 2007, the program is frozen at this reduced level and faces an additional crisis in the Administration's Budget Request for another cut to $32.1 million for Fiscal Year 2008.  If adopted, this additional cut could mean:

*  A 14% funding cut of $5 million
*  More than 195,000 students losing the opportunity to serve through Learn and Serve America;
*  A loss of $66 million of leveraged service to communities; and
*  A loss of 3.7 million service hours to communities.

Without restored funding, Learn and Serve America will not be able to maintain its current level of support for the schools, tribes, community-based organizations and colleges and universities through which it engages young people in service.  With your help, we can sustain the important federal investment in service-learning and its incredible impact on students and the communities they serve.

Once again, I ask you to restore the traditional funding level of $43 million to Learn and Serve America. Thanks in advance for your attention on this matter, and I would appreciate a response with your thoughts.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

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National and Global Youth Service Day April 20-22, 2007

National Youth Service Day Presenting Sponsor