Can Students Serve?

Want to engage your students in National Days of Service activities in the local community but not sure it is allowed or encouraged?

Service-learning is a methodology for realizing real-world experience in schools and the community that allows students to see practical applications of their academic studies while building sustainable community.

Research over the years has proven that service-learning increases student motivation and engagement in their learning and their educational success, especially for minority and under served youth. (See www.servicelearning.org, www.nylc.org, and www.ysa.org for research reports)

Service-learning has come and gone over the past 10 or so years in SFPS. It has been driven mostly by interested teachers and a supportive principal or two.

According to Superintendent Gutierrez, from the mid-1990's - 2001 35 hours of community service (not service-learning) was a required graduation component in the SFPS district. Around that time the State changed some of the graduation requirements and the district dropped its added component of 35 hours.

The current School Board policy on high school graduation requires students to complete 7 credits of electives. Policy #316 states "STUDENT SERVICE LEARNING: These courses including internships, mentoring, externships are encouraged as electives." (http://www.sfps.info/DocumentView.aspx?DID=778)

Middle schools require Community Service and written reflections on service as part of the 8th grade graduation portfolio.

In 2008 Dr. Mel Morgan's Drop Out Task Force developed a strategic plan for reducing drop out rates. Service-learning showed up as one of those intended initiatives.

Well...its a step towards real-world learning anyway.

But where is it showing up on the ground?

You tell us. Are you engaging your students in service-learning? Does your school have a service-learning initiative? Help us track the spread of service-learning in the schools and the inspired students that result.

Post your service-learning stories to this blog. Or visit our service-learning specific blog to see what others are up to. http://earthcaresantafe.blogspot.com/

And don't forget these service days that come around every year are great opportunities to wrap your curriculum around service to your school or community:

Martin Luther King Day of Service, January 18th
Cesar Chavez Day of Service, March 31
Global Youth Service Days, April 23-25, 2010
National Service-Learning Challenge Week: 1st week of October
National Sustainability Education Week: 2nd week of November