Can Service-Learning Help Reduce the Achievement Gap?

This research report offers correlational evidence that service-learning may be particularly beneficial educationally for low-income students and schools. Specific findings from the research: involvement in service appears to contribute to lessening the achievement gap, with low-income students who serve doing better academically than students who do not serve; principals in low-income schools are more likely than other principals to believe service-learning has a positive impact on students' school success; and urban schools, majority nonwhite schools, and poor schools that offer service-learning appear just as likely as other schools to provide high quality opportunities. (pages 10-22)