Service Learning
Surely the end of all education is service to others.
~ Cesar E Chavez ~
Beginning with the Class of 2020, high school students must complete 2 classroom-integrated service learning projects. Service projects must be completed as follows
1. Successful completion of a project in Civics or AP U.S. Government
2. Successful completion of a classroom project in another course.
Service-learning is a proven civic education practice that extends learning into the community and builds a strong sense of agency among young people. Chicago Public Schools requires that all students complete three service-learning projects in order to graduate. Service-learning is a teaching strategy that connects classroom curriculum with service projects. Service-learning engages students in projects that serve the community while building social, civic, and academic skills.
For more information on Service Learning Resources visit the CPS Service Learning Page HERE
FAQ
What is Service Learning?
Service-learning is a teaching and learning methodology that connects classroom curriculum with identify community issues and needs. Service-learning engages students in projects that serve the community and build their social, civic, and academic capacities. Each service-learning experience must have three distinct components in order for it to count toward the graduation requirement: Preparation, Action, Reflection. Students can earn service-learning credit by participating in a classroom service project, an after-school project, or a student club service project provided that all three components are in place.
How can I earn volunteer hours?
VOLUNTEER HOURS DO NOT COUNT TOWARDS GRADUATION REQUIREMENT.
Students may earn volunteer hours hours in the following ways:
- Participate in an approved classroom-integrated service project;
- Participate in an approved after-school project with a teacher or community organization;
- Participate in an approved project of an extracurricular club at your school;
- Volunteer with an approved community organization
- For the graduating classes of 2020 and beyond, students will need to complete a minimum of two (2) classroom-integrated service-learning projects: one service-learning project in a Civics or AP Government course and one additional classroom-integrated service-learning project.
I served my volunteer hours, now what?
- SCHOOL SPONSORED ACTIVITY – Students must coordinated with activity sponsor details for serving. Students are responsible for filling out a time sheet for their service, having it signed by the sponsoring staff member and writing a post reflection essay.
- OFF CAMPUS SERVICE: Students must coordinated with activity sponsor details for serving. Students are responsible for filling out a time sheet for their service, having it signed by the sponsoring staff member and writing a post reflection essay.
Student Resources
Visit the CPS Service Learning website for complete information and community partners to help you find the service project. CLICK HERE
Types of acceptable service
- Volunteering in a soup kitchen, food pantry, animal shelter, or hospital (reading to children, delivering food)
- Volunteering at a YMCA or Boys & Girls Club
- Tutoring students in a school or community-based organization
- Walk-a-thons with non-profit organizations
- Neighborhood clean-ups with community organizations
- Volunteering as helpers at MLA school functions (open houses, report card pick up, etc)
- Only acceptable church activities: tutoring, food/clothes pantry, and soup kitchen, community clean up, clothing drive, youth sports.
Activities not eligible for volunteer hours
- Work with for-profit businesses and corporations (including daycare centers);
- Work with religious organizations if the service involves promoting a particular faith;
- Volunteer work where no academic objective is addressed;
- Work that is financially reimbursed;
- Assisting teachers in classroom tasks (grading, filing, clean up)
- Favors for neighbors (walking pets, cleaning snow/leaves etc.
- Chores, babysitting or assisting a relative
Guidelines and Restrictions
If you are working on your own to complete your service-learning project, be sure that you do not:
- Receive money for your work
- Serve when no academic objective is addressed;
- Promote a specific faith, religion or political office
- Work for a for-profit business (even if you receive no money).
- Acts of Kindness are not considered as service learning. (helping neighbors, shoveling snow, walking the dog, etc.)
Service Learning Sheets
Click on attached files to view Service Learning Sheets: