Service-Learning Policies and Practices: A Research-Based Advocacy Paper PDF - This paper translates service-learning’s research-based evidence for education leaders and identifies best practices and policies. Learn more about the five critical components for effectiveness: vision and leadership, curriculum and assessment, community-school partnerships, professional development and continuous improvement. (Education Commission of the States, NCLC, September 2008) ...

Transforming Students into Active Stewards of Democracy -- A report on the U.S.-U.K. seminar Political Literacy and Service-Learning: The Role of Schools and Their Communities PDF - Proceedings from a 2005 joint seminar between U.S. and United Kingdom service-learning and citizenship education experts and practitioners, this report presents information on the similar challenges both countries face in promoting and implementing political literacy and citizenship education programs. (Dale DeCesare, Education Commission of the States, 2006)...

Service-Learning: Every Child a Citizen - This issue paper provides an overview of service-learning -- its impact, alignment with improving education, civic responsibility, voluntary versus required service, guidelines for effective practice, systems and strategies of support, and resources to integrate service-learning into K-12 schools. (Education Commission of the States, December 1999)...

State Education Leader (Fall 1999), Service-Learning Benefits Our Schools MS Word PDF - This comprehensive issue of ECS’ flagship publication focuses on service-learning. It provides insight into what constitutes high-quality service-learning and how to assure that policy and practice are aligned to address school reforms, standards, assessment and other critical issues facing K-12 education. (State Education Leader, Education Commission of the States, vol. 17, no. 3, Fall 1999, 20 pages plus 12-page insert) ...

Making the Case for Social Emotional Learning and Service-Learning PDF - This issue brief provides an overview and description of both social and emotional learning (SEL) and service-learning (S-L) as tools to improve the lives and academic performance of students. It describes how the two practices are interrelated and the research evidence that supports the expanded use of both practices in the classroom. Also provided are descriptions of the essential elements required of successful SEL and S-L programs, examples of such successful programs that are in existence today and a discussion of state activities and experiences....

Service-Learning: An Education Strategy for Preventing School Violence — Issue Paper MS Word - Rarely talked about is what is happening within young people that causes them to react with such negative emotion and antisocial behavior. Service-learning is one strategy that shows promise for creating a "culture of caring." (Carol W. Kinsley, Ann Southworth and Bruce O. Boston, Compact for Learning and Citizenship, Education Commission of the States, December 1999)...

Compact for Learning and Citizenship — 2001-02 Annual Report PDF - This past year has provided many opportunities for members of the Compact for Learning and Citizenship (CLC) to demonstrate their commitment to schools' civic mission and service-learning. The annual report highlights CLC's focus on high-quality practice, supportive policy and ensuring the infrastructure to sustain service-learning. The accomplishments are indicators of its members' leadership and contribution. (Education Commission of the States, CLC, 2002)...

Mandatory Community Service: Citizenship Education or Involuntary Servitude? MS Word - Whether or not students should be required to participate in community service, and what form that participation should take, are the questions most often posed about community service in K-12 education. Take a look at the pros and cons on this issue. (Susan M. Andersen and Nancy Murphy, Compact for Learning and Citizenship, Education Commission of the States, November 1999)...

Service-Learning and Preservice Teacher Education MS Word - Describes the reasons service-learning is used in preservice teacher education, examines challenges to its use and strategies for success, and presents examples of successful programs. Also offers suggestions and resources to assist P-12 school systems and education leaders in making policy decisions that will maximize service-learning's impact. (Jeffrey B. Anderson, Learning in Deed, Compact for Learning and Citizenship, Education Commission of the States, May 2000)...

Service-Learning Unites Classes MS Word - This article by ECS President Ted Sanders, from the June 26, 2000, issue of USA Today points out that more than two-thirds of public schools have some form of student community service, but only a third provide the structure of service-learning. Schools that take that extra step discover the profound effect service-learning can have on students and communities. ...

The Community College Conscience: Service-Learning and Training Tomorrow’s Teachers MS Word - Well-structured service-learning partnerships are vital to the community college conscience in many ways. Community colleges make up a vast network that can provide critical support to schools and the national effort to train teachers for the 21st century. Through service-learning, tomorrow’s teachers can be helped to value civic democracy and civil diversity and to have the human touch, learned and nurtured through service. (Robert W. Franco, Compact for Learning and Citizenship, Education Commission of the States, October 2000)...

Institutionalized Service-Learning in the 50 States MS Word PDF - This 50-state policy scan is a snapshot look at where states are with the institutionalization of service-learning. The scan used a narrow approach to service-learning, excluding language like community service, community restitution and other more broadly defined terms. The focus is on policy only, at the state level. (Katy Anthes, Education Commission of the States, March 2001)...

Promising Practice for K-16 - Project Connect: School-University Collaboration for Service-Learning MS Word - Partnership is a recurring theme in education these days: partnerships between schools and communities, between colleges and nonprofit organizations, between high schools and elementary schools, and between K-12 and higher education systems. This Issue Paper describes the authors’ experiences as a professor and teacher involved in Project Connect, an ongoing collaborative service-learning project between preservice teachers at Western Washington University and 8th-grade students at Fairhaven Middle School in the Bellingham (Washington) Public School District. Learn the rationale for the project, how the project worked and outcomes for each set of students. Also included are recommendations for helping you create similar collaborations.(Angela Hardwood and Callie Underhill, Compact for Learning and Citizenship, Education Commission of the States, April 1999)...

Upcoming Publications:

• Portraits of K-H Partnerships and Teacher Education Programs Working Toward the Integration of Service-Learning into Their Academic Programs