SITE

By Fran Rudoff

While much of the press attention around the newly enacted Serve America legislation has centered on the expansion of Americorps, the service-learning field is celebrating important changes that will help expand service-learning opportunities for K-16 students through the Learn and Serve America Program. [For those unfamiliar with the term, service-learning is a teaching strategy through which students are challenged to identify, research and address real community challenges, using knowledge and skills learned in the classroom.] Significantly, the law increases the overall authorized funding level for Learn and Serve America from its traditional funding level of $43 million to $97 million. Several new programs authorized by the law present interesting opportunities for Maine schools and communities. These include:

• A Summer of Service Program to engage K-12 youth in year-round opportunities to learn through service; participants can earn a $500 education award to be used for college expenses.
• Youth Engagement Zones to prepare K-12 youth to address specific challenges in their communities; competitive grants will be made available for local school - community partnerships that commit to engage a majority of K-12 youth—and all high school students—in a comprehensive continuum of service-learning opportunities in school and community-based programs.
• Campuses of Service to support and recognize institutions of higher education with exemplary service-learning programs and assist students in the pursuit of public service careers.

Although it remains unclear when these new initiatives will be fully implemented (the President’s 2010 Budget proposal includes $39.5 million for Learn and Serve America, well below the new authorization levels), I would encourage Maine schools, community organizations and campuses to begin thinking creatively about these new opportunities. The new law encourages service-learning activities that promote: energy conservation; emergency and disaster preparedness; expanding access to technology; as well as programs that involve high-school age youth in mentoring younger students. There is also an emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines.

Many organizations already offer experiential learning opportunities for youth during the summer months in a wide variety of areas such as the natural environment, gardening, reading and drama, and computer applications and programming. These programs can easily be modified or expanded so that participants can apply their new knowledge and skills to address a local problem or need. For example, youth involved in computer programs could work with seniors to help them learn basic word processing and Internet programs. Programs focused on environmental studies could create nature trails and guides, develop programs that educate others about recycling or water quality protection, or conduct energy audits of homes or public buildings.

School districts and communities should also watch the development of the new Youth Engagement Zones initiative. This program, which will target low income and rural communities, could provide significant funding to fully integrate service-learning into the curriculum and instructional practices in elementary, middle and high schools in a school district. Participating communities will commit to having 90 percent of students engaged in service-learning and include service-learning in the curriculum of its secondary schools.

To learn more about these new initiatives as they unfold, the following websites will provide regular updates:
http://www.servicelearning.org/ (the national service-learning clearinghouse)
http://www.service-learningpartnership.org (for advocacy and program updates)
http://www.icicp.org (for summer of service ideas and resources)
http://www.compact.org (for higher education updates)

I’m interested in hearing your ideas about these new initiatives. I can be reached at frudoff@kidsconsortium.org. Our website (www.kidsconsortium.org) also has free service-learning resources and project ideas.

Fran Rudoff is the Executive Director of KIDS Consortium and a guest blogger.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 at 12:02 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.