The Board of Trustees recognizes that service learning can help students develop skills, career awareness and self-esteem. Service experiences also can motivate students by letting them apply what they are studying to local needs and problems and by showing them that they can make a contribution to their community.
Integrated Community Service
The Board supports the integration of service learning activities with the curriculum so as to enhance learning in all subject areas. The Board encourages staff to collaborate with local public and nonprofit agencies in order to develop service learning activities that meet educational objectives and also fit in with current community efforts to meet human, educational, environmental or public safety needs.
Service learning experiences shall be required for middle and high school graduation.
(cf. 6146.1 - High School Graduation Requirements/Standards of Proficiency)
The Superintendent or designee shall determine the number of hours of service to be performed.
The Board recognizes that students may wish to perform service learning through independent study. Independent study may be arranged for this purpose when the Superintendent or designee finds it to be in the student's best interest.
(cf. 6158 - Independent Study)
Notifications
Parents/guardians shall receive information about the service learning opportunities offered by the district and their benefits for both the community and the student. The district shall ask parents/guardians to acknowledge this information before students participate in off-campus service activities.
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
233.5 Teaching of principles
35160 Authority of governing boards
35160.1 Broad authority of school districts
37220.6 Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning
51210 Areas of study, grades 1-6
51220 Areas of study, grades 7-12
51745 Independent study
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 42
12501-12682 National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993
COURT DECISIONS
Steirer et al v. Bethlehem School District, (1993) 987 F.2d 989
Management Resources:
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
California Department of Education, Service Learning: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/sl
Learn and Serve America: http://www.learnandserve.org
National Service Learning Clearinghouse: http://www.servicelearning.org
Youth Service California: http://www.yscal.org
Policy AROMAS-SAN JUAN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: November 10, 2004 San Juan Bautista, California