Bridging Student Needs and Community Resources: Meeting the Needs of P-12 Students Through District and Nonprofit Federal Work-Study Partnerships with Higher Education Institutions

Toolkit created by the Partnership for Student Success

March 2025

College students are an increasingly important source of support for P-12 students to learn and thrive in school and beyond. Through engagement as tutors, mentors, post-secondary transition coaches, student support coaches, and wraparound/integrated student support coordinators, college students serve students in their communities while also learning critical academic and professional skills. One pathway for engaging college students in this service is through Federal-Work Study (“FWS”) off-campus employment opportunities. However, the process of forming partnerships between IHEs and local districts and nonprofits can be complex and often varies between institutions, which can affect the creation of successful P-12 community service FWS programs.

This toolkit outlines key steps for nonprofits, schools, and districts to take when considering and developing Federal Work-Study partnerships with higher education institutions to place college students in evidence-based student support roles in P-12 schools and out-of-school-time programs.

This resource was developed by the Partnership for Student Success Federal Work-Study Working Group, led by the Partnership for Student Success at the Johns Hopkins University Everyone Graduates Center. Contributors include Afterschool Alliance, City University of New York (CUNY), Community College of Philadelphia, Eastern Connecticut State University, EduTutorVA, EQPD, George Washington University, Gordon College, New York City Department of Education District 26, North Carolina Education Corps, Schoolhouse.world, Siena College, Teach for America Ignite, Weber State University, and We Strive for Literacy.