HOW STATE POLICYMAKERS CAN SUPPORT SERVICE-LEARNING

Decision makers at all levels, from governors to school principals to parents, can play a role in supporting service-learning in the nation’s schools. Below are a few ideas.

Legislators and Governors

  • Contact service-learning officials in the state to determine where service-learning is happening.
  • Recognize and publicize outstanding service-learning efforts in the state.
  • Write an opinion article or guest column, or participate on a radio show highlighting a specific service-learning program; invite teachers and students to join you.
  • Incorporate service-learning into comprehensive school reform efforts.
  • Mention service-learning in speeches you give about education, youth and other relevant topics.
  • Support efforts to seek discretionary federal and foundation funding for service-learning activities.
  • Provide a forum for state boards of education, commissions for national service and legislators about service-learning and how it can improve student achievement.

State Departments and State Boards of Education

  • Designate a coordinator of statewide service-learning initiatives.
  • Work with school districts and teacher education institutions to develop and provide service-learning training opportunities for educators.
  • Support a statewide network of experienced service-learning educators.
  • Maintain a central source of data on service-learning programs and strategies.
  • Assist local districts in monitoring, evaluating and reporting on the effectiveness of service-learning.
  • Host regional seminars for principals and district-level administrators on strategies for:
    • using service-learning in state, local and national school improvement efforts;
    • assessing the impacts of service-learning on academic performance; and,
    • developing partnerships among schools, community organizations and institutions of higher-education.
  • Develop and disseminate written policies endorsing the integration of service-learning into the curriculum.
  • Work with exemplary districts throughout the state to provide information and training on model programs to other schools in the state.
  • Coordinate a comprehensive public campaign – speeches, opinion articles or guest columns, radio and/or television shows – highlighting the positive affects of service-learning on student development and student achievement.

go to top