Service-learning combines service to the community with student learning in a way that improves both the student and the community. As they participate in their community service projects, actively meeting the needs of communities, youth develop practical skills, self-esteem, and a sense of civic responsibility.

Service-learning partners can include elementary schools, secondary schools, institutions of higher education, community service programs, government agencies, non-profit organizations, faith-based organizations, and tribal nations.

A social studies teacher in a community where historical monuments are in disrepair could develop a project in which students work with the local historical society to find ways to repair them. In the process, the students would research local history, create exhibits for the public, further their civic understanding, and even learn preservation techniques.

A science teacher in an urban area with little access to fresh produce could teach students about botany, biology, and agricultural practices by having them build and maintain a community garden. The students might even set up a vegetable stand, where they could put into practice the concepts they are learning in their math or economics classes.

A Spanish teacher in an area with a growing Spanish-speaking population could develop a service-learning project to translate brochures and fliers put out by local service groups or schools. This would not only give students an opportunity to hone their language skills, but also to learn more about Hispanic culture.

Success Stories.

The practice of service-learning dates back much further than the term itself, beginning with educational movements and social change in the late 1880s. The intellectual foundations of service-learning in the United States trace back to the early 1900s with the work of John Dewey, William James, and others who promoted models of “learning by doing,” and linked service to personal and social development. The term “service-learning” was coined by two educators in 1967 to describe the combination of conscious educational growth with the accomplishment of certain tasks that meet genuine human needs. History and Glossary.

A national study of Learn and Serve America programs* suggests that effective service-learning programs improve academic grades, increase attendance in school, and develop personal and social responsibility. Whether the goal is academic improvement, personal development, or both, service-learning can help students learn critical thinking, communication, teamwork, civic responsibility, mathematical reasoning, problem solving, public speaking, vocational skills, computer skills, scientific method, research skills, and analysis.

[*”Impact of Service-Learning on Civic Attitudes and Behaviors of Middle and High School Youth: Findings from Three National Evaluations,” by Alan Melchior and Lawrence Neil Bailis, 2002]

Learn and Serve America is a national service grant program that supports service-learning across the country by providing funding to schools, colleges, and nonprofit groups that engage students in community service linked to academic achievement and the development of civic skills. Learn and Serve America , a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service and USA Freedom Corps, was established in 1990 and celebrates its 15th Anniversary in 2005. Learn and Serve America has contributed more than $429 million to the service-learning efforts of schools, colleges, and universities nationwide since 1994. Annually, over 1 million students participate in projects supported by Learn and Service America.

• School and Community-Based Project Directory
• Higher Education Project Directory

A rough estimate is available from the Campus Compact annual service statistics. These statistics reflect only Campus Compact member institutions and do not distinguish between community service and service-learning.

The 2003 community service statistics from Campus Compact indicate that 36% of students at member institutions were involved in service and that 81% of member institutions offer discipline-based service-learning courses.

For more information on service-learning in higher education, contact the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse or our program advisor, Community-Campus Partnerships for Health.

The key source for this information is the National Center for Education Statistics, and the most commonly-cited statistic is that about one-third of public schools nationwide are conducting service-learning.

The National Center for Education Statistics report, “Service-Learning and Community Service in K-12 Public Schools” indicates that "the percentage of public schools nationwide with service-learning was 32 percent. By instructional level, 25 percent of elementary schools, 38 percent of middle schools, and 46 percent of all high schools had students participating in service-learning.” In addition, “Overall, 64 percent of all public schools in the United States had students participating in community service activities recognized by and/ or arranged through the school.”

The National Center for Education survey “National Student Service-Learning and Community Service Survey” (1999) shows the percent of public schools with service-learning (1998-99) broken out into mandatory and voluntary service-learning. The report also shows how schools are implementing service-learning.

The National Youth Leadership Council 2004 report entitled "Growing to Greatness: The State of Service-Learning Project" states that of 1,799 schools responding to their survey, "69% of public schools engage students in community service, reaching an estimated 15 million students." More statistics are available directly from the report.

For more information, read the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse Fact Sheet “The Status of Service-Learning in the United States : Some Facts and Figures”, contact the Clearinghouse, or contact our program advisor for K-12 service-learning, RMC Research Corporation.

Maryland is currently the only state that requires service-learning as a requirement for graduation.

For more information on states, standards, and service-learning, read the ECS issue paper “Institutionalized Service-Learning in the 50 States” (2001) or their Citizenship Education Database.

More policy news can be found at the State Education Agency K-12 Service-Learning Network (SEANet Online).

There are two excellent guides from the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse on this topic.

• Publishing & Presenting in Service-Learning
• Opportunities for Service-Learning Research and Scholarship

Because service-learning research and discussion is also published in journals from many different disciplines, including social work, psychology, chemistry and accounting education, and others, the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse builds its extensive and unique library collection by routinely searching across disciplines, and reading a wide variety of journals and service-learning newsletters to find relevant articles.

You can search for articles in the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse library collection by using our advanced search feature.

Visit our useful collection of links to service-learning journals, newsletters, and journals with articles on service-learning.

Contact us for individual research assistance at 1-866-245-SERV (7378) extension 272.

This resource from the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse provides links to many service-learning organizations and organizations doing service-learning as part of their mission.

National Service-Learning Partnership. The Partnership is a national leadership organization dedicated to advancing service-learning as a core element of the educational experience of every elementary, middle, and secondary school student in the United States . Membership is free and provides access to advocacy resources, teaching resources, and more.

Learning in Deed. Their Service-Learning Policy Toolkit (227K pdf) was created for service-learning advocates interested in helping inform policymakers. Provides information and strategies for service-learning practitioners, and assists them in understanding how policymaking at the district, state, and federal levels can help to expand the overall scope and quality of the service-learning field.

The National Service-Learning Clearinghouse maintains an extensive searchable calendar database of service-learning conferences and events.

Contact the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse Toll-free at 1-866-245-SERV (7378) or e-mail info@servicelearning.org

Barbara Holland, Ph.D., Director barbarah@etr.org
Liberty Smith, Ph.D., Program Manager libertys@etr.org
Heather Martin, MISt, Librarian heatherm@etr.org
Larry Hardison, Webmaster larryh@etr.org
Jason Burrage, Resource Specialist jasonb@etr.org
Janine Bird, Resource Specialist janineb@etr.org
Amber Isidro, Administrative Assistant amberi@etr.org

Suggestions for this Media Guide? Send them to Liberty Smith.