I’m starting my genius hour project investigation searching for articles that show how service learning is being implemented in a K-12 setting, and that investigate the effects service learning has on the students that participate in them and the school as a whole.

I found this booklet that is given to students and parents about the Student Service Learning (SSL) requirement issued by the Maryland State Department of Education. The booklet explains the 75 hour SSL high school graduation requirement. Also the booklet explains program facts,  what is meaningful community involvement, includes SSL documents, and beneficial outcomes of SSL.

Through this booklet I hope to understand how they’ve structured their program. I’m curious of when in their high school career the parents and students receive this booklet, and also the service learning opportunities the students can engage in to count towards hours. Also, what system do they use to keep track of hours logged? Is there a discussion session between students about their service? What role do teachers play in this? Have Maryland schools noticed a change in student achievement or well being since implementing this state wide graduation requirement?

Student Service Learning (SSL): Give a Little Time…Make a Big Difference. 2014-2015 Guide for Students and Parents

I also found an article that investigates how service learning affects student outcome. The article looks at a national network of 19 schools established by the National Center for Learning and Civic Engagement (NCLCE) that use service-learning as an instructional strategy . The schools were part of a three-year project to examine how the elements of service-learning might enhance key student outcomes, such as academic performance and civic engagement. This report focuses on the relationships observed between students’ participation in service-learning and academic performance and school attendance.

I expect this article to give me insight into the benefits of implementing service learning in K12 schools. I am particularly interested in how SSL affects school attendance. School attendance has been a major issue in education and if SSL has a significant effect on attendance this could serve as a catalyst to its implementation.

Service–Learning May Influence Some Students’ Attendance and Academic Performance

I’m still continuing to search for more articles and studies about service learning that will show me the different facets to implementing SSL. I would like to know reasons why schools choose not to implement SSL, what resources SSL requires and what students say about their experience.