The Afterschool Alliance, in partnership with MetLife Foundation, is proud to present the third in a series of four issue briefs examining critical issues facing middle school youth and the vital role afterschool programs play in addressing these issues. This brief focuses on service-learning opportunities for middle schoolers. Pairing service…

Service learning, which combines community service with curriculum objectives, has several components: preparation, collaboration, service projects, curriculum integration, and reflection. Although opponents of mandatory programs criticize service learning as detracting from academics, studies indicate positive effects on academic achievement and…