* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmembers Clarke and Henry
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Request for Budget Action - Educational Grants - Restoration of Funding for Experience Corps
FOR the purpose of requesting that the Mayor restore funding to Experience Corps to its FY 2012 level of $180,000.
body
Recitals
The Educational Grants Fiscal 2013 budget statement reflects a new strategy to engage more students in learning activities that increase school attendance, a key factor in academic success. Experience Corps is an award winning, evidence based model of intergenerational classroom assistance that is proven to improve K 3rd grade student attendance and academic achievement through one-on-one and small group tutoring and literacy training. While the goal of the new strategy is to reach more students in a tighter proximity, the proposed 84% funding cut to Experience Corps will actually result in a sharp decrease in the number of at risk students in Title I schools served by Experience Corps and its trained volunteer members.
WHEREAS, AARP Experience Corps is an award winning national program that mobilizes the experience, wisdom, and energies of adults over 55 to improve the academic performance and attendance of students in some of Baltimore's most challenging classrooms.
WHEREAS, Experience Corps was founded locally at Johns Hopkins University and since its inception in 1998, has grown to over 280 members that tutor and mentor pre K 3rd grade students in 22 Title I schools in Baltimore City.
WHEREAS, Experience Corps volunteer members are recruited from the communities they serve and complete 36 hours of training in literacy and library support, phonetics, and violence prevention. Each member spends an average of 15 hours / week in a single classroom working one on one and in small groups to provide literacy coaching and homework help all while developing consistent relationships and an emotional support structure for students at risk for poor attendance and academic performance.
WHEREAS, Experience Corps members serve in the most challenging schools with students at the highest risk for chronic absenteeism and future academic underperformance, including schools with over 80% of students receiving free or reduced meals and an increasing enrollment of English language learners.
WHEREAS Experience Corps members provide the early, sustained, individualized attention that is critical for these at risk children lacking the literacy skills, language development, and positive attitude for learning necessary for reading success.
WHEREAS, Independent research shows that Experience Corps consistently boosts student reading performance in these challenging schools in the key K 3 age groups. In a randomized controlled trial of students in 20 Baltimore schools between 2005 and 2009, 1st and 2nd grade Stanford 10 reading scores for students in Experience Corps classrooms improved 7.0% and 4.7% more than students in non Experience Corps classrooms.
WHEREAS, These academic gains were similar for 3rd graders in 2010 11 as 6.7% more students served by Experience Corps reached "advanced" and "proficient" levels in reading and math on the Maryland Student Assessment.
WHEREAS, Experience Corps provides significant economic and health benefits to its volunteer members by providing 220 seniors a monthly stipend that helps pay for basic needs.
WHEREAS, John Hopkins University research indicates that Experience Corps members receive the added benefits of larger social networks, increased strength, decreased fall risk, improved memory and cognitive function, and higher activity levels that enhances their physical and psychological health.
WHEREAS, Experience Corps has depended upon funding from Baltimore City to provide a high quality, evidence based literacy program for several years.
WHEREAS, Each dollar of Baltimore City funding in FY 2012 was leveraged for $5.14 in federal, state, and private funding.
WHEREAS, it is proposed that Experience Corps funding for FY 2013 be cut by 84% (a decrease of $152,000) and that loss of funding will likely result in the cutting of evidence based Experience Corps services to several schools, dozens of members, and hundreds of Baltimore City students.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Mayor is hereby requested to restore funding to Experience Corps to its FY 2012 level of $180,000.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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