Federal Work-Study Program
The Federal Work-Study Program provides funds to colleges and universities to employ eligible vocational, undergraduate and graduate students part-time in exchange for financial aid. Federal Work-Study students may be employed by their college or university; by a federal, state, local or public agency; private nonprofit organization, or by a private for-profit organization. Under the family literacy waiver, colleges and universities are allowed to use 100 percent of Federal Work-Study funds to pay a student’s wages working in a family literacy program. Normally, Federal Work-Study wages may not exceed 75 percent of a student’s total compensation. (Under the previous requirement, programs would have had to make up the 25 percent difference.)
Colleges and universities receiving Federal Work-Study funds are required to employ one or more of their Federal Work-Study students in a reading tutoring project or family literacy program to fulfill the community service requirement. Colleges and universities are required to use at least 7 percent of their annual Federal Work-Study allocation for community service.
Funding: Grants are awarded by the U.S. Department of Education directly to higher education institutions via formula. In order to participate, students must meet financial need requirements.
Use of Funds: Family literacy programs are encouraged to contact the colleges and universities in their area to see if the programs can be used as a site for Federal Work-Study students.
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