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CALIFORNIA
EASTIN ANNOUNCES GRANT FROM THE W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION WOODLAND, California – May 18, 1999 – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin announced today that California will be one of five states to participate in the W.K. Kellogg Foundation national initiative called Learning In Deed: Making a Difference Through Service-Learning. The Initiative will focus on expanding students’ service experiences that are linked to classroom instruction – a teaching strategy known as service-learning. California will receive $400,000 over the next four years to broaden service-learning in schools and strengthen related policies across the state. “California has been recognized as a leader in the use of service-learning,” stated Eastin, “and I am pleased that we can share what we have learned so far with other states across the country. We look forward to combining our experience with that of others throughout this nation so that young people will learn how to become active citizens in our democracy. “California already has a blueprint for what must happen to provide all students with service-learning opportunities,” Eastin continued. “In December I released the report of my Service-Learning Task Force, Service-Learning: Linking Classrooms and Communities, which contains eight recommendations for infusing this teaching and learning strategy into all schools and communities. The Kellogg Foundation Initiative provides us with new resources to assist school districts that are implementing service-learning.” California plans to use the Kellogg Foundation grant to develop an interactive on-line inventory of service-learning activities linked to academic curriculum that can be used by educators, community representatives and students. Eastin announced the receipt of the grant at the Yolo County Office of Education HAWK (Habitat Alliance and Wildlife Keepers) Garden Learning Center in Woodland, where second- and third-grade students were attending the Annual Spring Festival. At the festival, students from Woodland High School, Cache Creek High School and Woodland Midtown court/community school participate in service-learning by teaching elementary students science, nutrition and the joys of gardening at learning stations throughout the three-acre garden. Two Woodland students started the urban garden on long-neglected land near their school because they wanted to create a community asset that provided a learning opportunity for every youth in Yolo County. Students completed all structures, including the greenhouse, shadehouse, potting shed and irrigation system, and the students also manage the garden. “By tapping into the capabilities and contributions young people have to offer, we are building leaders for today and tomorrow,” said Christine M. Kwak, Kellogg Foundation program director for Learning In Deed. “We already know that service-learning experiences help young people in a variety of ways. As citizens, it gives them an increased sense of civic responsibility and a commitment to community involvement. As students, it helps improve school performance and academic engagement. And as individuals, it reduces their involvement in risky behavior, improves their self- confidence, and gives them real-world experiences and a passion to make a difference for others.” Eastin was also joined at the HAWK garden by Frank Newman, president of the Education Commission of the States (ECS), the organization that is administering the grant. Newman said, “At a time when so many people in our country have so little faith in civic institutions – from city councils to Congress – we need to actively help our young people see the importance of getting involved in their communities. What better way to do this than to promote quality service-learning opportunities?” California was chosen from among 21 states to receive the grant to promote service-learning because of the state’s leadership and substantial state-level commitment to service-learning. Maine, Oregon, South Carolina and Minnesota also will receive grants from the Kellogg Foundation. ECS will work with California and the other four states to increase quality service-learning opportunities; ensure that service-learning efforts are integrated into the core academic curriculum; and develop policies and funding to support effective service-learning practices. The Yolo County Office of Education is one of 34 California school district-community partnerships that receives direct funding assistance to implement service-learning from the California Department of Education’s (CDE) CalServe Initiative. CalServe is funded by a grant from the Corporation for National Service, Learn and Serve America in Washington D.C. (See Attachment for some other examples of school districts that have service-learning initiatives funded by CalServe.) For more information about service-learning and the CDE’s CalServe Initiative or a complete list of local education agencies that are involved in the CalServe Initiative, contact Mike Brugh, consultant, Family and Community Partnerships Office at (916) 653-7971. For more information about the Foundation’s Learning In Deed Initiative, call (202) 778-1040. ### |