Bill Overview
Title: Service Starts At Home Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to carry out two programs to support student participation in local government and volunteer service. Specifically, ED must make allocations for states to (1) support paid internships within local government agencies for secondary school students, and (2) award competitive scholarships to eligible students who demonstrate a commitment to volunteer service work conducted for or on behalf of a government or nonprofit organization.
Sponsors: Rep. Kim, Andy [D-NJ-3]
Target Audience
Population: Secondary school students eligible for internships and scholarships in government and service work
Estimated Size: 5000000
- The bill specifically targets secondary school students, which globally can be estimated to be individuals aged 12-18.
- There are approximately 1.2 billion youth aged 15-24 globally according to United Nations estimates, and the 12-18 range is a subset of this group.
- The focus is on students participating in government and volunteer services, which will be a small subset of all secondary school students.
- Not every secondary student will be interested or able to participate in internships or service work for various reasons.
Reasoning
- The policy is aimed primarily at students aged 12-18, with an estimated American target population of around 5 million students. Given the budget and the size of the target population, not every student will benefit from the program in its entirety.
- The budget allocation suggests a selective process for internships and scholarships, focusing on students who express interest in government or volunteer service.
- The overall impact will vary based on pre-existing opportunities, regional differences in educational and governmental infrastructure, and individual student interest and awareness.
- The simulated interviews will aim to reflect this diversity, providing perspectives from different socio-economic backgrounds and regions.
Simulated Interviews
Student (San Diego, CA)
Age: 17 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this policy is fantastic! I've always wanted to get involved in government work but didn't know where to start.
- Paid internships would be a great way to learn and earn at the same time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Student (Houston, TX)
Age: 16 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could be a great opportunity for people like me who already do a lot of community service.
- Paying students might encourage more to get involved, which is really needed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 15 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Honestly, I'm more focused on my music than on community service or government.
- It sounds like a good idea for those interested, but it doesn't really affect me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Student (Rural Kansas)
Age: 18 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Living in a rural area, we have fewer opportunities compared to students in cities.
- This program might bring some new opportunities here, which is exciting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Student (Brooklyn, NY)
Age: 17 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm interested in local politics but work keeps me busy.
- A paid internship would make it easier financially to participate.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 14 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This sounds like something high schoolers would be more into.
- Maybe once I get to high school, I'd consider joining.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Student (Suburbs of Philadelphia, PA)
Age: 16 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.5 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not really into government or community service, but I can see it benefiting some classmates.
- Might be a good idea for those not interested in sports.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Student (Salt Lake City, UT)
Age: 17 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I love volunteering and this seems like it would expand my opportunities.
- A scholarship for service would lessen my college tuition worries.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Student (Detroit, MI)
Age: 15 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not sure how this would affect me right now, but it might be beneficial later.
- Encouraging service and government participation seems positive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 18 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having done some service work, I can see how this policy can open several doors.
- A paid internship sounds appealing, especially during a gap year.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $125000000, High: $175000000)
Year 2: $175000000 (Low: $150000000, High: $200000000)
Year 3: $200000000 (Low: $175000000, High: $225000000)
Year 5: $250000000 (Low: $220000000, High: $280000000)
Year 10: $300000000 (Low: $260000000, High: $340000000)
Year 100: $3000000000 (Low: $2600000000, High: $3400000000)
Key Considerations
- Participation rates and student interest levels can significantly influence costs.
- The effectiveness in fostering genuine engagement and skill development must be assessed to ensure value for money.
- Administrative overhead and efficiency in running the programs will add to costs.
- The balance between internship stipends and scholarship awards needs careful calibration to optimize benefits.