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| Source: RMC Research Corporation, July 2002, updated May 2008 | ||
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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: the incorporation of service-learning into state education standards and graduation requirements; the distribution of funds received from the federal government for service-learning programs; and the development of guidelines for local school boards that are implementing service-learning programs. | ||
| Overview of State Policies on Service-Learning | |
Learn and Serve provides funding for 48 states as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia to implement service-learning programs through their State Departments of Education. More information on the Learn and Serve America program and the status of this federal legislation is available online at www.nationalservice.org. Also supporting the work of State Departments of Education staff and directors from the 50 states and the U.S. territories are Learn and Serve America’s representatives within the State Education Agency K-12 Service-Learning Network (SEANet). SEANet supports the managing and implementing of statewide service-learning programs, providing: program evaluation, curriculum development, providing training, issuing subgrants, and supporting partnerships. Information on SEANet is available online at www.seanetonline.org. | ||
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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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| 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. Recent examples of district level service-learning policies include California’s 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. More information can be found at www.mpusd.k12.ca.us/strategic_plan.html. | ||
| Conclusions | |
| The development of state and district policies serve are evidence of broad support for 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. | ||
| For a more detailed discussion, including references and documentation, see the complete online fact sheet at http://www.servicelearning.org/instant_info/fact_sheets/k-12_facts/policy/expanded.php |
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| Suggested citation: | ||
| RMC Research Corporation. State and School District Policy in K-12 Service-Learning. Scotts Valley, CA: Learn and Serve America’s National Service-Learning Clearinghouse, 2002/2008. http://servicelearning.org/instant_info/fact_sheets/k-12_facts/policy/index.php |
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