Service-Learning Guidelines

The Department of Education

(DOE)is encouraged to offer students in grades kindergarten to twelve

(12)an opportunity to engage in courses that include Service-Learning activities.

(a)For purposes of this Section, “Service-Learning” means a method of instruction under which students learn and develop through the integration of active participation in thoughtfully organized service and standards-based curriculum that complies with all of the following:

(1)it meets the needs of a community;

(2)it is coordinated with an elementary school and/or secondary school;

(3)it helps foster civic responsibility; and

(4)it is used to integrate and enhance the academic curriculum of the students, and to provide structured time for the pupils to reflect on their service experience.

(b)Beginning with the ninth

(9th)grade class in the 2011 and 2012 School Year, and for every school year thereafter, each student shall complete seventy-five

(75)hours of service learning as a requirement for high school graduation. Service hours earned shall be printed on each report card. The Superintendent, with the approval of the Board, shall establish the minimum number of hours of service learning required by the end of the student’s eleventh

(11th)grade year in order to be promoted to senior status. The Superintendent, with the approval of the Board, shall establish the prorated number of hours of service learning for students transferring into the Department of Education from off-island, or from private schools, after the start of their sophomore year to be promoted to senior status and high school graduation.

(1)All high school students enrolled during School Year 2019-2020 shall be exempt from the provisions of § 4124(b).

(2)Graduating high school students for School Years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 shall be exempt from the provisions of 4124(b).

(3)Beginning with the ninth

(9th)grade class of School Year 2023-2024, each student is encouraged to complete ten

(10)hours of village/island beautification and ten

(10)hours of school campus beautification, including on-campus gardening projects, of the required seventy-five

(75)hours of Service-Learning hours. Students prior to the ninth

(9th)grade class of School Year 2023-2024 shall be exempt from this Subsection.

(4)Graduating high school students for School Year 2023-2024 shall be exempt from the provisions of § 4124(b), and instead shall be required to complete thirty-five

(35)hours of service learning as a requirement for high school graduation.

(5)Graduating high school students for School Year 2024-2025 shall be exempt from the provisions of § 4124(b), and instead shall be required to complete fifty-five

(55)hours of service learning as a requirement for high school graduation.

(c)DOE shall enact policies for Service-Learning including, but not limited to, the following: CH. 4 CURRICULUM AND TEXTS

(1)the Board shall establish policies for Service-Learning activities and how course credit will be assigned and permitted;

(2)no service assigned, or work performed, as a component of any penalty or disciplinary action, is eligible for Service-Learning credit pursuant to this Section;

(3)Service-Learning through religiously-affiliated organizations is permitted, provided the service rendered shall not be religious in nature, and participation in forms of worship or religious instruction shall not be counted towards the fulfillment of the Service-Learning requirement; and

(4)Students shall not receive monetary compensation for Service-Learning.

(d)Service-Learning activities may only be performed in cooperation with any of the following entities:

(1)governmental entities;

(2)non-profit organizations; and

(3)entities that the Board determines to be appropriate and consistent with this Section.