Service Learning Definition

New:
An educational method by which participants learn and develop through active participation in service that is conducted in and meets the needs of a community.  Service learning is coordinated with a school or community service program and with the community.  It is integrated into and influences the lifelong learning of a participant and includes structured time for the participants to reflect on the service experience.

Service learning teaches the skills of civil participation and develops an ethic of service and civic responsibility.  Students can provide service in the community on a voluntary basis to public, nonprofit agencies, civic charitable and governmental organizations and school campus.

School Board requested clear definition of Service Learning hours.  In summary, service performed by students must meet the needs of the community.  Students can provide service in the community on a voluntary (non-pay basis) to public, nonprofit agencies, civic, charitable and governmental organizations and school campus.

Political participation as credit for
Service Learning

New:
Service hours will be awarded for students volunteering on political campaigns and issues.  To receive service hours a student cannot be paid for working on the political campaign.  A student may not distribute campaign materials, display campaign posters or other political campaign paraphernalia on the school campus.  A student is not eligible to receive service-learning hours for volunteering on the political campaign of a school board employee or school board elections.

Students are entitled to earn service hours for volunteering on political campaigns and issues that are conducted off campus and during non-school hours.  Students are not eligible for service learning under the following conditions:

The restrictions to a student’s involvement in political campaigns/issues only apply to the earning of service learning hours.  For example, nothing restricts a student from wearing t-shirts and buttons with political messages in school unless school officials articulate a reasonable expectation that the student’s expression would cause substantial disruption or would invade the rights of others.  However, a student could not receive service learning credit by wearing a campaign t-shirt on campus under the guise that he/she is involved in campaigning.  Rules governing students freedom to communicate political views and distribute literature is set forth in the Code of Student Conduct.  The Code of Student Conduct addresses the First Amendment rights of students and guides their conduct.

Religious Institutions

Revised:
Students may receive volunteer hours for helping at religious institutions as long as these hours do not include participation in a religious service, teaching religion or proselytizing.  For example, a student is not eligible for service learning teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir or serving as an altar server.  However, a student may receive service hours for assisting in landscaping, clean up days or day care for no fee.  In addition, students serving as teen aides in Sunday school (i.e. copying materials, walking kids to bathrooms, assisting with supervision) are eligible for service learning credit as long as the student is not teaching religious studies.

Activities at religious institutions that do not qualify for service learning include proselytizing.  Proselytizing is defined as inducing someone to convert to ones faith.  In addition, services including singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, participating in the religious service and serving as an altar server do not qualify for service learning.  Students serving as teen aides in Sunday School classes are eligible to earn service-learning hours.  Teen aides are not involved in the teaching of religious activities.  The teen aides assist in supervising the students, walking students to bathrooms, copying materials etc.

Reflection Paper

Revised:
The one page reflection paper is no longer required for students as a condition of graduation.

Student should be encouraged to use their service learning experiences as discussion or written topics whenever appropriate as part of class assignments.

Appeal Process

New:
If a students volunteer hours have been denied by the school based Student Volunteer Service Coordinator the student may appeal that decision to the Department of Student Activities and Athletics.  The appeal must be in writing and a copy of the log sheet referencing the hours in question must be attached.  The letter must contain a telephone number and address.  A response to the appeal shall be made in writing.

Students who are denied service learning hours may submit a written appeal to the Student Activities Liaison.  The Student Activities Liaison working with the Director of Student Activities and Athletics shall investigate the student’s claim and issue a final decision in writing.  The investigation will include discussion with the school based volunteer service coordinator and the applicable outside agency or business.

Review by School Board of Broward County

New:
Policy 6000.1 is brought before the School Board twice a year.  At that time the Service Learning hours program will be reviewed for any changes that may be implemented or issues to be discussed.

The Director of Student Activities and Athletics will coordinate with Leah Kelly, Director, Student Support Services to ensure that Service Learning is a component of the School Board bi-annual Policy 6000.1 review

Deletion of Rule on admission
charges and donations

New:
In rule 4(b) the term “profit” is removed and substituted with the word “fundraising”.
In rule 4(c) the following requirement was deleted:  Community service hours for theatrical musical performances will count if:
(c) Admission is not charged nor donations solicitated.

Service Learning credit for theatrical and musical performances will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.  The essential issue is whether the performance meets the needs of the community and the student organization does not utilize the event for fundraising or financial compensation.  A group performing a volunteer musical performance that addresses a community need may receive honorarium expenses (i.e. transportation, uniform cleaning).

Government Institutions

New:
Volunteering at events or programs sponsored by governmental agencies will count.  For example, students serving as an usher at public institutions such as the Broward Center for the Performing Arts or Coral Springs City Center are eligible to receive service learning.

Students who volunteer at governmental institutions including municipalities, Broward County Government, Water Management District etc. are eligible to earn service-learning hours.  For example, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and the Coral Springs City Center are governmental institutions.  Students who volunteer as ushers are eligible to receive service-learning hours.

Disaster Assistance

New:
Hours spent helping others (not family members) in disaster preparations or clean up may count.  In this instance the Prior Approval form may be waived.  A letter from the parent or guardian indicating that the volunteer service was performed with their permission must be submitted with the log sheet.  For example, students volunteering their time to assist neighbors in putting up and taking down hurricane shutters will count towards service learning

Students shall be eligible for service learning hours when assisting neighbors and fellow community members with disaster preparation and clean up.  Students may act individually or as an organized group.  It is recognized that students should be acknowledged for assisting individuals (not family members) with the impact of hurricanes and other national disasters that affect South Florida.

Donating Blood

Revised:
A student may receive service hours credit for the time donating blood at an off campus facility or after school.  Donation of blood at a blood drive during school time does not qualify for service learning.  For example, a student who donates blood at a church/synagogue blood drive is eligible for service learning credit.

Service learning hours shall not be awarded to students who donate blood during their school day.  Students who donate blood after school, at blood donor facilities or at community facilities are eligible for service learning hours.  Service hour credit is limited to the time the student donates blood.

Volunteering at School Functions

New:
A student may earn volunteer hours by helping at an event or performance at which admission is charged or a donation collected, providing that the student is not a member of the organization benefiting from the event.  For example, a student who is not a member of the Drama Club, may volunteer to usher, collect tickets, etc. at a drama or club production and earn hours.

A student who is not a member of a club may receive service learning hours for providing a service that benefits the club activities.  For example, a student who is not a member of the drama club but volunteers to operate the stage lighting shall receive service learning hours.

Guidelines attached to Policy 6000.1

New:
The volunteer service guidelines will be placed right behind Policy 6000.1.  The new guidelines will be disseminated to all high school principals, volunteer service coordinators and all high school students.

School Board Policy 6000.1 requires students who wish to earn a standard diploma must meet the graduation requirement of 40 service learning hours.