| Source: RMC Research Corporation, July
2002 Updated May 2007 |
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 | Introduction | |
| As service-learning continues to become more prevalent, states are adopting policies that both support and regulate its practice. Some states address issues of mandatory service while others focus on transportation, safety, and alignment with state standards. Samples of policies include: | ||
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| Overview of State Policies on Service-Learning | |
| A 50-state policy scan conducted by the Education Commission of the States in March 2001 found that: | ||
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| (Source: Education Commission of the States, "Service-Learning Policy Scan," available online at www.ecs.org) | ||
All 50 states receive funds from the Corporation for National and Community Service to implement service-learning programs (Learn and Serve America) through their State Departments of Education. | ||
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Examples of Recent State Policies | |
| Recent policies adopted by some states demonstrate the importance and expansion of service-learning as an educational practice. For example: | ||
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| (Source: Education Commission of the States, "Recent State Policies/Activities: Service-Learning and Community Service," available online at http://www.ecs.org/ecs/ecscat.nsf/WebTopicView?OpenView&RestrictToCategory= Service+Learning/Community+Service ). |
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| District Policies | |
| Service-learning policies at the district level are becoming more common. In addition to adopting service-learning as part of high school graduation requirements and aligning service-learning with content standards, there are now schools in some districts that have a service-learning focus. To highlight the importance of service-learning at the district level, 44 school district leaders across the country were selected to be members of the 100 District Leaders for Citizenship and Service-Learning Network by the Education Commission of the State's National Center for Learning and Citizenship in March 2006. The remaining 56 Network leaders will be selected in fall 2006. The network members will deepen citizenship education and service-learning in their districts, states, and throughout the nation by writing articles, conducting workshops at state and national conferences, and hosting policy forums. More information on this initiative can be found at http://www.ecs.org/ecsmain.asp?page=/html/ProjectsPartners/nclc/nclc_main.htm. Recent examples of district level service-learning policies include the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District 's Strategic Plan for 2003-2008. As part of the plan, the district encourages community service and volunteerism at all grade levels and seeks to expand service-learning programs for increasing student involvement in the community. In the Chicago Public Schools, service-learning is seen as an educational strategy to enhance social and academic learning while developing character and citizenship skills. Students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of service between 9th and 12th grade in order to graduate. The district added a requirement in 2004-2005 that all sophomores must complete a minimum of 20 hours of service in order to be promoted to junior status. Additionally, students must spend time preparing for and reflecting on their service-learning experience. Students can fulfill the graduation requirement through classroom-based projects, after-school projects, or individual projects. Each school has at least one training Service-Learning Coach whose responsibility it is to develop project opportunities for and with students. Teachers also play at important role in developing classroom-based service experiences that are linked to curriculum and standards. Guidelines and more information can be found at http://servicelearning.cps.k12.il.us/Guidelines.html. The Oregon City School District is opening a new service-learning charter high school in fall 2006. The mission of the Oregon City Service Learning Academy (OCSLA) is to empower students in grades 9-12 to make positive transitions to school, life, and community by gaining competence in core academic and life skills. OCSLA aims to connect students to resources and equip them for post-secondary education and employment through service-learning. The school will eventually serve 100 high school students. Visit the school's Web site at http://www.orecity.k12.or.us/schools/oregon_city_service_learning_academy. |
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| Conclusions | |
| The development of state and district policies serve to legitimize the practice of service-learning as a key component of K-12 education. These policies also provide mechanisms for stable funding and development of guidelines for service-learning programs at the local school level. As such, they are an important factor in the institutionalization and sustainability of K-12 school-based service-learning. | ||
| Resources on K-12 Service-Learning Policies | |
| Corporation for National and Community Service 1201 New York Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20525 (202) 606-5000 www.nationalservice.org www.learnandserve.org | ||
| Education Commission of the States 700 Broadway, Suite 1200 Denver, CO 80203 (303) 299-3600 www.ecs.org | ||
| The National Service-Learning Partnership at the Academy for Educational Development (AED) 100 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10011 Tel: (212) 367-4570 www.service-learningpartnership.org | ||
| State Education Agency K-12 Service-Learning Network
(SEANet) at the Academy for Education Development (AED) 1825 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 10th Fl. Washington, DC 20009 Tel: (202) 884-8098 www.seanetonline.org | ||
| The National Youth Leadership Council's "Growing to Greatness: The State of Service-Learning" publications include information on state service-learning activities and policies. The publication series, which began in 2002, can be found at: http://www.nylc.org/inaction_init.cfm?oid=3698&null=1155591094952 |
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| Additional links to state government service-learning Web sites can also be found at: http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws/students/service/links/statelinks.html |
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| Suggested citation for this document: | ||
| RMC Research Corporation. Policy: K-12 Service-Learning. Scotts Valley, CA: National Service-Learning Clearinghouse, 2006. http://servicelearning.org/instant_info/fact_sheets/k-12_facts/policy/expanded.php |
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