When AmeriCorps funding vanished, so did critical tutoring; community partners step in

VICKSBURG, Miss. by Alyssa Lick (VDN) — The recent federal funding cuts to AmeriCorps, ordered by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), not only disrupted multiple service members but also disrupted educational support programs across Mississippi, including in Vicksburg.

350 AmeriCorps service members were affected in just Vicksburg alone, including academic guides serving through the AMPACT program. These guides provided targeted tutoring in reading and math for kindergarten through third grade, as well as math support for students in grades 5 through 8. Vicksburg has been one of many communities to benefit from these services.

The loss of AmeriCorps funding has created gaps in after-school programming, but local partners continue to work diligently to fill them. United Way of West Central Mississippi continues to support tutoring efforts by funding academic guides placed in multiple after-school centers throughout the region. The organization reimburses centers for tutors through a voucher program that helps ensure students continue to receive individualized academic support.

“Literacy is foundational,” said Michele Connelly, Executive Director of United Way of West Central Mississippi. “In a world driven by digital connection, the ability to read and comprehend is more important than ever—for applying to jobs, understanding medication instructions, or simply reading a menu.”

Although the federal cuts have led to the end of programs like Math Corps and America Reads Mississippi in many areas, the need for tutoring persists. Math Corps has served more than 55,000 students nationwide with structured math interventions, while America Reads Mississippi has reached over 60,000 students across 26 schools since 1998 with support from nearly 5,000 AmeriCorps members.

The work must continue, and community-led initiatives will play a key role in keeping students on track.
For more information about after-school tutoring centers in Vicksburg, contact United Way of West Central Mississippi at 601-636-1733.

Editor’s Note: The author of this story works for United Way of West Central Mississippi and also writes for the Vicksburg Daily News.