Expand service-learning in schools

Spending bill boosts Learn and Serve America

Updated: Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 | By Louis Jacobson

During the presidential campaign, Barack Obama promised to promote "service learning" -- that is, integrating community service projects with classroom learning. The administration stated support for middle and high school students engaging in community service for 50 hours a year during the school year or summer months.

To advance this goal, Obama promised to "develop national guidelines for service-learning and community service programs, and ... give schools better tools both to develop successful programs and to document the experience of students at all levels. They will encourage programs that engage with community partners to expand opportunities for community service and service-learning opportunities, so that students can apply what they learn in the classroom to authentic situations that help the community. These programs will also involve citizens from the community engaging students in service opportunities through the Classroom Corps."

The main federal vehicle for service learning is Learn and Serve America, which is operated by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Learn and Serve America provides direct and indirect support to K-12 schools, community groups and higher education institutions to promote service-learning projects.

The final fiscal year 2010 appropriations bill gave a 5 percent boost to Learn and Serve America, rising to $39.5 million from its 2009 level of $37.5 million. The final amount was exactly what the president had requested. The corporation said that is enough to support 1.3 million participants, increase the number of disadvantaged youth participating and begin a 10-year study on the impact of service-learning.

We were unable to locate any indication that program officials have developed "national guidelines" since Obama took office. Until then, we won't call it a Promise Kept. But the administration has definitely done enough to earn a rating of In the Works.

Sources:

Corporation for National and Community Service, "Congress Approves Historic Budget Increase for National Service" (news release), Dec. 14, 2009

Corporation for National and Community Service, budget chart, accessed Jan. 12, 2010

Corporation for National and Community Service, "What Is Learn and Serve America?" (web page), accessed Jan. 12, 2010

Corporation for National and Community Service, "What Is Service-Learning?" (web page), accessed Jan. 12, 2010

Interview with Lewis Cohen, executive director of the Coalition of Essential Schools, Jan. 12, 2010