Tomorrow, the U.S. Public Service Academy will co-sponsor a national summit to mobilize support for an initiative to build a civilian counterpart to the military service academies. The brainchild of two Teach for America/AmeriCorps alumni, the Public Service Academy would be a four-year national college modeled on the military service academies. More than 5,000 students would get a federally-subsidized undergraduate in exchange for a commitment to serve for five years in public service positions following graduation.
“The Academy will help transform the way young Americans perceive, prepare for, and pursue public service,” said Chris Myers Asch, a leader of the Academy initiative. “It will reinvigorate our sense of public service and revitalize our public sector.”
The initiative has earned bipartisan support in Congress. The Public Service Academy Act was introduced in March 2007 by Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) in the Senate and Rep. James Moran (D-VA) and Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT) in the House of Representatives. The bill currently has 19 Senate co-sponsors; 94 House co-sponsors; and has also has won the endorsement of numerous organizations including City Year, the National Peace Corps Association, and the U.S. Student Association, as well as prominent individuals such as Madeleine Albright, Lee Hamilton, and three former superintendents of West Point.
Best of luck to Chris and his team tomorrow. We look forward to a full report!
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