Learn and Serve BRING LEARNING TO LIFE! America

Established in 1993 to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in community service AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Learn and Serve America Learn and Serve America

Established in 1993 to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in community service

AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Learn and Serve America

Our Goal To make service –learning and civic engagement a standard feature of American education, both formal and informal Learn and Serve America

To make service –learning and civic engagement a standard feature of American education, both formal and informal

Learn and Serve America… funds programs in K-12 schools, community-based organizations, and institutions of higher education that engage participants in structured, hands-on projects that meet community needs while helping participants develop personal, civic, and academic skills . Learn and Serve America

funds programs in K-12 schools, community-based organizations, and institutions of higher education that engage participants in structured, hands-on projects that meet community needs while helping participants develop personal, civic, and academic skills .

Learn and Serve America

The Definition of Service-Learning Participants learn and develop through active participation in thoughtfully organized service that is conducted in and meets the needs of a community coordinated with an elementary school, secondary school, institution of higher education, or community service program, and with the community fosters civic responsibility integrated into and enhances the academic curriculum of the students, or the educational components of the community service program in which the participant is enrolled provides structured time for participants to reflect on the service experience Learn and Serve America *Source: National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993

Participants learn and develop through active participation in thoughtfully organized service that is conducted in and meets the needs of a community

coordinated with an elementary school, secondary school, institution of higher education, or community service program, and with the community

fosters civic responsibility

integrated into and enhances the academic curriculum of the students, or the educational components of the community service program in which the participant is enrolled

provides structured time for participants to reflect on the service experience

Elements of School-based Programs Integrates community service into the curriculum Creates and maintains reciprocal partnerships between school and community Meets compelling community needs Ensures youth leadership and decision-making Addresses state and local standards Provides at least 20 hours of service in a semester Promotes civic skills and engagement Occurs many times throughout the school years Learn and Serve America

Integrates community service into the curriculum

Creates and maintains reciprocal partnerships between school and community

Meets compelling community needs

Ensures youth leadership and decision-making

Addresses state and local standards

Provides at least 20 hours of service in a semester

Promotes civic skills and engagement

Occurs many times throughout the school years

Research Findings Improved Academic Achievement and Engagement Learn and Serve America Positive Civic Attitudes and Behaviors Reduction in Risky Behavior

Improved Academic Achievement and Engagement

Positive Civic Attitudes and Behaviors

Reduction in Risky Behavior

Growth In Prevalence In 1984, only 9% of high schools organized service-learning programs in their schools. By 2004, 30% of public schools nation-wide organized service-learning, including 46% of high schools. Learn and Serve America

In 1984, only 9% of high schools organized service-learning programs in their schools.

By 2004, 30% of public schools nation-wide organized service-learning, including 46% of high schools.

National Service-Learning Gathers and disseminates information about service-learning at: www.servicelearning.org Curriculum, research, project examples E-Mail discussion lists Available free to the public Learn and Serve America Clearinghouse

Gathers and disseminates information about service-learning at: www.servicelearning.org

Curriculum, research, project examples

E-Mail discussion lists

Available free to the public

Challenge to the Virtual World Community How can service-learning have a useful presence in virtual worlds and an impact in the real world? Learn and Serve America

How can service-learning have a useful presence in virtual worlds and an impact in the real world?

Resources Corporation for National and Community Service www.nationalservice.gov National Service-Learning Clearinghouse www.servicelearning.org National Service-Learning Partnership www.service-learningpartnership.org Brad Lewis, Program Officer, Learn and Serve America Blewis@cns.gov or (202) 606-6898 Learn and Serve America

Corporation for National and Community Service

www.nationalservice.gov

National Service-Learning Clearinghouse

www.servicelearning.org

National Service-Learning Partnership

www.service-learningpartnership.org

Brad Lewis, Program Officer, Learn and Serve America

Blewis@cns.gov or (202) 606-6898