The Flossmoor District 161 Board of Education voted to extend a partnership with City Year AmeriCorps for the 2025-26 school year at its July 21 meeting.

Eight AmeriCorps members once again will work with students at Parker Junior High. Students who worked with City Year partners last year showed improved overall test scores and a decrease in behavioral issues. District administrators reported that the program also helped students improve their attendance. 

“They’ve had a really incredible impact,” Amabel Crawford, director of learning and instruction, told the board on June 22. “Our corps members do a great job connecting with families and getting to know the students really well to build those strong relationships.”

The City Year program recruits young adults to serve as tutors, mentors, and role models in schools. Participating AmeriCorps members commit to a year of full-time service. They offer academic support, mentorship and enrichment activities to help students achieve success. 

Corps members are assigned a classroom where they interact with students and teachers daily. They also contribute to the school culture by planning activities and participating in events. AmeriCorps members gain valuable experience while helping to improve the communities in which they work.

The district plans to fund the $130,000 City Year partnership through the Title I grant.