AmeriCorps Eligibility: FAQs
Eligibility for Enrollment in Citizen Schools’ National Teaching Fellowship and Eligibility to Receive an AmeriCorps Education Award
(Last update November 2011)
Citizen Schools’ National Teaching Fellowship is supported by a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service and is an AmeriCorps National program.
- AmeriCorps regulations limit members’ service to no more than four terms with an AmeriCorps National or AmeriCorps State Program. Citizen Schools’ National Teaching Fellowship is a two-year program, and therefore, applicants must have at least two full terms of AmeriCorps eligibility remaining.
- AmeriCorps regulations limit members to receiving no more than the aggregate value of two full Education Awards, no matter how many terms of service they complete.
The frequently asked questions presented below may help you to determine if you are eligible for Citizen Schools’ National Teaching Fellowship and to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award. If you need additional information, please contact Yolanda Neville.
FAQs
1. Am I eligible to apply to Citizen Schools’ National Teaching Fellowship if I have previously completed a term of service with an AmeriCorps State/National program?
Yes, you are eligible for the Fellowship if you have completed a term of service with an AmeriCorps State/National program before. AmeriCorps regulations allow members to serve a maximum of four terms of service. (A term of service includes any full-time or part-time term in which the member served at least 15% of the agreed term.)
2. I was an AmeriCorps VISTA or participated in an AmeriCorps NCCC program in the past. Will this affect my eligibility for the Fellowship?
No. Service in AmeriCorps VISTA and AmeriCorps NCCC do not count as terms of service covered by the four-term limit for AmeriCorps State/National programs. Prior service in VISTA or in an NCCC program will not interfere with your eligibility for two years with Citizen Schools’ National Teaching Fellowship.
3. The AmeriCorps State/National program in which I served previously was part-time. Does this still count as a whole term of service?
Yes, it does. AmeriCorps counts toward the four-term limit of any term of service you’ve performed, whether it was full-time, part-time, reduced part-time, or minimum-time.
4. My State/National program only provided me with an Education Award, and not a stipend. Does this count as a term of service?
Yes, it does. Whether or not you received a living allowance, an Education Award, or both from the AmeriCorps State/National program in which you served, your service in that program counts toward the limit of four terms.
5. I earned an Education Award through previous service in VISTA, NCCC, or another AmeriCorps program. Will this affect my eligibility for Citizen Schools’ National Teaching Fellowship?
As noted in question two, prior service in a VISTA program or with NCCC does not limit your eligibility to serve at Citizen Schools, but if you have previously received an Education Award from VISTA, NCCC, or another AmeriCorps program (whether full-time or part-time) your eligibility to earn additional Education Awards from Citizen Schools may be limited. A person many only receive two full Education Awards in their lifetime (as of 2011, programs approved during that fiscal year award $5,550 as a full Education Award; prior to 2010, it was $5,350). Therefore, if you have previously earned a full or partial Education Award in another program, the total value of the Education Awards you can earn during two years of service at Citizen Schools will be reduced by the amount of your previous awards.
6. How can I tell what type of AmeriCorps service I’ve completed?
The best way to find out what types of programs you’ve participated in is to check your My AmeriCorps account at my.americorps.gov. Detailed information will be provided on your page, and will help you determine what types of service you’ve completed. You can also call AmeriCorps directly at 1-800-942-2677 Monday through Friday, from 8 AM to 8PM EST.
7. I did not complete my last AmeriCorps State/National program. Will I be eligible to serve two full terms of service with Citizen Schools?
This depends on how much time you’ve completed in your last AmeriCorps position. If you completed less than 15% of the required time with your program, a term of service will not count. If you completed 15% or more of the time, your term of service will count. To find out more about how much time you completed log into your My AmeriCorps account, call your program, or talk to an AmeriCorps representative at 1-800-942-2677. AmeriCorps regulations state, “Additionally, if an individual is released for cause from an approved AmeriCorps position (including positions in AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps VISTA, AmeriCorps NCCC, and Serve America Fellows), and the program determines in the end-of-term evaluation that the individual served unsatisfactorily, the individual may not serve a subsequent term in an approved AmeriCorps position.”
Additional information regarding eligibility to serve and to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award is also available at www.americorps.gov.
8. If I’m going to serve as an AmeriCorps member without receiving a Segal Education Award (I’ve already received the two full awards) am I still eligible for forbearance through AmeriCorps?
No, this is not currently allowed. It is under review and you will be notified if there is any change to this policy.
