[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