Research shows that the program boosts student academic performance, helps schools and youth-serving organizations become more successful, and strengthens ties between these institutions and surrounding neighborhoods.
After a planning and start-up phase that began in summer 1995, an 18-month pilot was conducted in 12 schools in Philadelphia; the South Bronx; Minneapolis; Portland, (Oregon); and Port Arthur, (Texas).
The projects agreed to place teams of 15 half-time Experience Corps members in some of the neediest inner-city elementary schools in their communities.
Beginning in 1997–1998, after the two-year pilot, the Corporation for National and Community Service provided additional funding for an expansion of Experience Corps (called the Seniors for Schools initiative).
As a result, an older person interested in becoming part of Experience Corps was provided greater choice in selecting a role within the program.
The second tested the use of seed grants to expand the elementary school model to new cities, including San Francisco; Washington, D.C.; Indianapolis; Phoenix; and Durham.
Since 1999, two additional Experience Corps projects, focused on the in-school model, began operating in Baltimore (through Johns Hopkins Center on Aging and Health) and New York City (through United Neighborhood Houses).