Argues for offering service opportunities to youth in the community through participatory programs that teach them to care for others. (LD)

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, created in partnership with NASSP in 1995, recognizes young people who initiate outstanding volunteer projects. In two years, the program has honored 10,000 young heroes. In the fall, schools across the nation promote the opportunity and encourage nominations of outstanding youngsters. The purpose is to…

Kids Voting USA is a grass roots, community-driven voter education program. A Kids Voting community must mobilize corporate sponsors, election officials, media representatives, and administrative staff to print curricula, train teachers, prepare students, welcome them to polling precincts, and count and report their votes. Children become…

Since the NASSP initiatives of the 1970s, service learning activities have prospered in many schools, and mandatory community service has either been adopted or is being considered by many state and local school systems. With passage of the National and Community Service Act (1990), both service learning and full-time stipended youth service are…

Discusses research-based guidelines for designing effective service-learning programs. Success requires establishing clear goals, projecting desired outcomes, involving staff who support experiential learning, engaging administrators who support flexibility and staff development, involving community partners in planning, incorporating evaluation…

Service learning is a form of experiential learning; students participate in projects that serve unmet community needs and facilitate classroom learning. Providing well-developed service-learning opportunities in school gives young people a chance to develop personally, interpersonally, and academically. Reflection and interpersonal interactions…

In a learning community, everyone must participate in decision making. Involving students in developing classroom rules, solving community problems, and reviewing school and district policies has lasting benefits. Service learning, mentoring, and mediation programs help students develop civic responsibility, interpersonal competence, and…