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SOUTH CAROLINA
SOUTH CAROLINA ONE OF FIVE STATES TO RECEIVE $400,000 TO EXPAND SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAMS COLUMBIA, SC – May 14, 1999 – State Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum was joined by First Lady Rachel Hodges today in announcing that South Carolina is one of five states selected by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to receive a four-year, $400,000 grant to expand service-learning in schools and strengthen related policies across the state. “Service-learning – a program where students learn through service – is a proven strategy for improving education,” said Tenenbaum. “South Carolina is recognized nationally as a leader in this field. Through this grant, we will be selecting six leader school districts that are already successfully implementing service-learning, and work with them to develop ways statewide that we can reduce barriers to integrating the program into state policy and infusing it into our curriculum.” Tenenbaum said that the PRAISE (Plan for Reaching and Articulating Institutionalization of Service Experiences) Project will pair the selected school districts with institutions of higher learning to identify practices and policies that are most effective at fostering service-learning. “The quality of instruction that students receive through service-learning can only enhance our efforts to improve education overall in South Carolina,” said Gov. Jim Hodges. “Public-private partnerships are vital to a quality education system, and Kellogg has been a strong partner in the improvement of education nationwide.” First Lady Rachel Hodges agreed. “As a mother, I understand the importance of teaching our young people about the value of giving back to their communities. Our young people can help improve their communities by doing service projects and at the same time improve their academic skills.” Last year, 150,213 South Carolina students volunteered 1.2 million hours through service-learning programs. An additional 24,944 parents and community members joined them in efforts to improve their communities. Projects ranged from Britton Neck’s students who built a fire station that resulted in lowered insurance premiums to Branchville youth who landscaped new school facilities’ grounds to learn horticulture and teamwork. Twenty-one states applied to participate in the $13 million national initiative called Learning In Deed: Making a Difference Through Service-Learning, administered by the Education Commission of the States (ECS). California, Maine, Minnesota and Oregon are the other states selected. “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 experience and a passion to make a difference for others.” Friday’s announcement was made at Spring Valley High School, where more than 1,300 students were engaged in 33,000 hours of school and community service as part of their coursework during the 1997-98 school year. Created in 1992, the school’s VikingServe program involves a variety of service projects, many of which benefit victims of hunger and homelessness. This year through Spring Valley’s largest annual service project – Winter Days – students solicited over $10,000 in gifts and contributions for a holiday party for 146 foster children; collected 16,000 food items and 500 blankets for agencies which help the hungry and homeless; provided over 4,000 items for Toys for Tots; and raised $4,200 for the Children’s Garden, a day care center for underprivileged children. “Not only does service-learning benefit those in need,” said Spring Valley senior Jamaal Young, “but it also benefits the school as a whole by building a mutual relationship of trust, understanding and friendship between Spring Valley and the community.” “We’re excited about beginning the PRAISE initiative because it will build upon the work that we’ve done this school year with six leader school districts who have not only implemented successful service-learning projects locally, but have also been active in statewide efforts,” said Kathy Gibson Carter, executive director of the South Carolina Commission on National and Community Service, which is housed at the Department of Education. “These districts have integrated service-learning into the curriculum frameworks and other education initiatives, and have helped us develop resources and training for schools across South Carolina.” This year’s service-learning leader school districts are Aiken County, Charleston County, Lancaster County, Marion District 4, Pickens County and Richland District 2. Carter said that the current six leader districts will be eligible for the PRAISE initiative, along with other school districts that have been leaders in the implementation of service-learning statewide and have local policies to support service-learning. Work has already begun on the PRAISE Project with the selection of the six new leader school districts to be announced in September. “At a time when so many people in our country have so little faith in civic institutions – from school boards, to the City Council, to Congress – we need to actively help our young people see the importance of getting involved in their communities,” said ECS President Frank Newman. “What better way to do this than to promote quality service-learning opportunities? Service-learning not only encourages civic participation, it also strengthens academic learning for students because it is tied to the real world.” ### |