Project Grant 21SRHFL009

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AN ESTIMATED 141 RSVP VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE ANNUALLY WITH RSVP OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY. THE PRIMARY FOCUS AREA FOR THE GRANT IS EDUCATION, AND ACTIVITIES IN THIS AREA WILL INCLUDE TUTORING KINDERGARTEN -- TWELFTH GRADE STUDENTS IN LITERACY AND/OR MATH, MENTORING KINDERGARTEN -- TWELFTH GRADE STUDENTS IN A ONE-TO-ONE OR SMALL GROUP SETTING, AND PROVIDING LITERACY ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES TO PRE-SCHOOL STUDENTS. RSVP VOLUNTEERS WILL PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT (SJCSD), AND LITERACY ENRICHMENT IN SJCSD EARLY CHILDHOOD CLASSROOMS (HEAD START, PRE-KINDERGARTEN EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION, AND VOLUNTARY PRE-KINDERGARTEN) AND TARGETED CHILD-CARE CLASSROOMS (IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION OF NORTH FLORIDA). TUTOR SERVICES IN MATH WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED IN SJCSD ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND/OR HIGH SCHOOLS. MENTORING SERVICES WILL BE PROVIDED TO STUDENTS IN THE SJCSD HOMELESS PROGRAM, STUDENTS IN THE TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN PROGRAM, AND STUDENTS IDENTIFIED WITH ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT CHALLENGES. AT THE END OF THE THREE-YEAR GRANT, 240 STUDENTS WILL DISPLAY IMPROVED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN LITERACY AND/OR MATH. ONE HUNDRED PRESCHOOL CHILDREN WILL DISPLAY GAINS IN SCHOOL READINESS. TWENTY STUDENTS WILL DISPLAY IMPROVED ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT FROM TAKING PART IN A MENTORING RELATIONSHIP. FIFTY STUDENTS WILL DISPLAY IMPROVED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AFTER TAKING PART IN THE SJCSD SUMMER READING PROGRAM. THESE PROJECTIONS ARE MADE WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT VOLUNTEERING WILL TAKE PLACE REMOTELY, DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS. IF THESE RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED, THESE NUMBERS WILL BE HIGHER. SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH COMMUNITY PRIORITIES WILL INCLUDE SUPPORTING SCHOOLS THROUGH ACTIVITIES LISTED ABOVE THAT DO NOT MEET THE MINIMUM DOSAGES; PROVIDING NON-ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOLS; AND PROVIDING EPISODIC SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY SERVICE AGENCIES IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. THE CNCS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $75,000.00 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY $38,174.00 OF NON-FEDERAL RESOURCES. MATCHING FUNDS WILL COME FROM THE SJCSD (CASH AND IN-KIND SERVICES), COMMUNITY SPONSORSHIPS AND IN-KIND SERVICES, AND FUNDRAISING.