Serve DC supports in-school and out-of-school time service-learning efforts in the District of Columbia by offering regular professional development opportunities to DC practitioners, providing direct financial support to DC K-12 public schools through the Learn and Serve America program, and creating resources to share best practices in service-learning.  

What is Service-Learning?
The National Service-Learning Clearinghouse defines service-learning as “a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities.”

Over the past several years, service-learning has expanded in schools and community-based settings across the country. Going beyond logging community service hours to instilling a habit of service in youth, service-learning creates a comprehensive learning experience for young people that puts them at the center of their learning and equips them to be change agents in their communities. 

Community Service or Service-Learning?
It is important to emphasize how service-learning differs from community service and volunteer work in that the young person’s learning experience is at the center, and it is a comprehensive approach to community involvement. Service-learning is not: episodic volunteer experiences, logging community service hours, or services that are only beneficial to the community.     

Service-Learning Implementation Model

Service-learning practitioners can follow a model of implementation (IPARDC) with the following stages: 

• Investigation: Adults guide a process where youth are engaged in defining their community and exploring assets and needs. Once a project topic area is selected, young people conduct related research and begin to identify resources and community partners. 
• Preparation: Adults and youth conduct project planning and logistics. Learning objectives are defined.   
• Action: Meaningful service is conducted in the community with community partners. 
• Reflection: Youth engage in ongoing reflection activities that allow them to connect the service experience to learning objectives and consider their role in community change.  
• Demonstration: Youth have an opportunity to share the knowledge gained in their service activity through teaching others and highlighting positive impacts in the community. 
• Celebration: Youth are acknowledged and recognized for their contribution in the community, and the impact of the service is celebrated with all community partners.

K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice
In 2008, the National Youth Leadership Council in partnership with the service-learning field released evidence-based standards and accompanying indicators that K-12 practitioners can use to ensure high-quality service-learning practice. The eight standards are (1) Meaningful Service, (2) Link to Curriculum, (3) Reflection, (4) Diversity, (5) Youth Voice, (6) Partnerships, (7) Progress Monitoring, and (8) Duration. For a more information and a listing of indicators please refer to the Standards*.

Service-Learning Resources

• National Service-Learning Clearinghouse: The National Service-Learning Clearinghouse serves as a comprehensive service-learning resource that includes toolkits, factsheets, curriculum examples, listservs, and other resources for the service-learning field.  The Clearinghouse’s resource SLICE (Service-Learning Ideas and Curriculum) provides an opportunity for practitioners to search a database of example curriculum as well as contribute examples. 
• DC Service-Learning Practitioner Listserv**: The purpose of the listserv is to help advance service-learning in the District of Columbia by developing a peer-to-peer network of practitioners. Practitioners are encouraged to share information on service-learning resources, professional development opportunities, and events.
• Learn and Serve America: Learn and Serve America (LSA) is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service that supports service-learning in K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and community-based organizations. Learn and Serve America enables over one million students to make meaningful contributions to their community while building their academic and civic skills. By engaging our nation’s young people in service-learning, Learn and Serve America instills an ethic of lifelong community service.