    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [June 17, 1999]
    [Page 956]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Memorandum on Voluntary Service Opportunities in the District of
    Columbia
    June 17, 1999

    Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

    Subject: Strengthening Our Commitment to Service Through Voluntary
    Opportunities

        Volunteer community service is a great American tradition and a
    profound expression of the civic values that bind us together as a
    Nation. Nowhere is the spirit of volunteerism more alive than among
    employees of the Federal Government, thousands of whom serve their
    country with dedication at work and as volunteers in their local
    communities. On April 22, 1998, I directed Federal departments and
    agencies to expand community service opportunities for Federal employees
    by making maximum use of existing flexibility in work scheduling
    policies. Today, I am encouraging all departments and agencies with
    operations in the District of Columbia to apply those policies so that
    their D.C.-based employees can take advantage of a vitally important
    community service opportunity: helping D.C. public school students
    become better readers this summer.
        From June 28 through August 6, an estimated 30,000 D.C. school
    children with low test scores will be in mandatory and enrichment summer
    school programs run by the D.C. Public School system. Students whose
    scores do not markedly improve risk being held back a grade. This is
    part of the District's ambitious plan to end social promotion while also
    giving children the extra help they need to meet higher standards--the
    kind of positive reform I have called on all school districts to adopt.
    As the District's largest employer, the Federal Government has a unique
    opportunity to help children improve their scores and rejoin their
    classmates this fall.
        That is why I am pleased that the Corporation for National and
    Community Service is assisting Federal departments and agencies in
    recruiting 1,500 Federal employees to become volunteer reading tutors
    through the D.C. Reads This Summer program. Employees who choose to sign
    up with D.C. Reads This Summer will receive training and be able to work
    one-on-one with students once a week for 6 weeks at one of 32 school-
    and community-based tutoring sites around the city. I encourage
    departments and agencies that have not already done so to inform
    employees of this rewarding volunteer opportunity and assist where
    possible in transporting employees to and from the sites. I also ask
    that you continue to encourage and support employees who choose to
    volunteer through other community programs. In addition to D.C. Reads,
    there are many excellent programs being run through libraries and
    religious and community centers throughout the D.C. area. Finally, I
    encourage you to maintain or strengthen any preexisting partnerships
    that your department or agency may already have with D.C. or other local
    school systems.

                                                          William J. Clinton