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Contact Information:
ECS National Center for Learning and Citizenship
700 Broadway, Suite 810
Denver, CO 80203-3442
Phone: 303.299.3606
FAX: 303.296.8332

Contacts:

Paul Baumann
Project Leader and Acting Director
pbaumann@ecs.org

Brady DeLander
Assistant Editor/Administrative Asst.
bdelander@ecs.org

Lisa Guilfoile
Project Leader
lguilfoile@ecs.org

Molly Ryan
Assistant Policy Analyst
mryan@ecs.org

The Schools of Success Network is a national network of 19 schools in 10 states practicing high-quality service-learning. With funding from the State Farm Companies Foundation and Learn and Serve America, the schools are part of a three year project to examine how the elements of service-learning enhance student academic knowledge, skills and education aspirations.

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State Farm Companies Foundation
http://www.statefarm.com/aboutus/community/grants/partner/partner.asp

Ten schools were selected based on their support of five elements critical to the successful, school-based integration of service-learning — shown to lead to greater student achievement and success: vision and leadership, curriculum and assessment, professional development, community-school partnerships and continuous improvement.

Each school will receive funding over two years to expand and deepen existing service-learning initiatives, and build greater capacity within their district. In return, schools will be asked to test and learn from leadership strategies that integrate and sustain quality service-learning for all students to succeed in school and in their communities.

This initiative is supported with a grant from the State Farm Companies Foundation, building on NCLC efforts over eight years to support, encourage and reward sustainability of quality service-learning. Both State Farm Companies and NCLC share the goal of enhancing the knowledge, skills, and will of education policymakers and leaders to increase state and district policies reflecting the components of quality service-learning.

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Learn and Serve America
http://www.learnandserve.gov/

NCLC recently received a three-year grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service, Learn and Serve America: School-Based Programs to expand its "Schools of Success" Network to include middle schools (grades 6-9) that promote the use of high quality service-learning to address STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) objectives. The nine selected schools receive funding over three years and three days of training annually focusing on the implementation of high-quality service-learning and STEM specific service-learning projects. NCLC will collect evidence demonstrating student success and will guide schools to move from practice to policy.

These schools will join NCLC's existing Schools of Success Network to identify and share insights, experiences, strategies, policies and practices to integrate and sustain quality service-learning opportunities for all students.

The Schools of Success Network is part of a larger evaluation study conducted by RMC Denver that is using a set of common measures across a cluster of Learn and Serve states (Arizona, Hawaii, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota,  Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin) and national programs (e.g., Youth Service America's STEMester of Service and ECS Schools of Success).

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Goals of the evaluation study are:

• To allow for aggregation and analysis to develop a regional profile of practice and impact
• To contribute to the national body of evidence of the efficacy of service-learning as a strategy for meeting academic and civic goals.

Each of the schools in the Schools of Success Network will examine their program's effects on schools, community conditions, and students' academic and civic engagement using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The evaluation employs a pre/post survey of all participating students and matched comparison students, and also uses state averages in mathematics and science test scores and dropout rates as comparative measures. In addition, the survey measures likelihood of graduating high school, aspirations for postsecondary education and careers, and quality of the service-learning experience. Teachers are asked to rate school climate and culture, report impact on community and rate the quality of the service-learning programs.

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Please use the links below for more information on each school.

Three NCLC Schools of Success (SOS) are highlighted in an article in the October issue of District Administration. Service-learning is the focus of "Connecting Curriculum with Community" which features the service-learning programs at Montpelier High School, Raymond School and Sutter Middle School. These schools are part of NCLC's 19-member Schools of Success, funded by State Farm Insurance Companies and Learn and Serve America.

• Schools of Success Resources
• Timeline and Important Dates

Schools of Success Forms:

• Schools of Success Grant Invoice (Word)
• Learn and Serve STEM Grant Invoice (Word)
• Match Documenting Cash and In-Kind (Excel)