The Impact of Voluntary Youth Service on Future Outcomes: Evidence from Teach for America

Over the past half century, nearly 1 million American youth have participated in national service programs such as the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and Teach For America (TFA). 1 These organizations have two stated objectives. The first is to provide services to communities in need. Peace Corps sends volunteers to work in education, business, information technology, agriculture, and the environment in more than 70 countries. Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), an AmeriCorps program, enlists members to serve for a year at local non-profit organizations or local government agencies. TFA recruits recent, accomplished college graduates to teach in some of the most challenging public schools.