Service-Learning in California: A Profile of the CalServe Service-Learning Partnerships (1997-2000)

Responding to the National and Community Service Act of 1990, the California Department of Education developed the CalServe Initiative to support K-12 service-learning partnerships that would enhance student academic achievement and civic responsibility, increase teacher effectiveness and satisfaction, heighten school district awareness of service-learning, and provide authentic service to the community. The 1997-2000 local evaluation process was designed to assist CalServe partnerships in the collection of participation and impact data for their local service-learning activities. The data collected were also to be used to develop a statewide profile of service-learning participation and impact across CalServe's funded partnerships. The profile report summarized here presents the findings from this three-year statewide evaluation effort. 

Chapters include: 

• California’s K-12 Service-Learning Initiative: Background and History
• A Profile of Service-Learning Participation and Activities In California (1997–2000)
• Teachers and the Practice of Service-Learning
• Service-Learning and Student Academic Outcomes
• Service-Learning and the Development of Civic Responsibility and Citizenship
• The School/District and Community Impacts of K-12 Service-Learning
• Sustaining and Institutionalizing Service-Learning
• The Role of the Local Evaluation Process
• Epilogue: Lessons Learned and Future Directions