Integrating Service-Learning in School Districts

This section presents high-quality resources that National Service-Learning Partnership members have created to support the growth and integration of service-learning across a school district.

To grow the practice of service-learning within a school district, supporters must work on multiple fronts with a range of partners. Building a strong, district-wide service-learning support system takes years, but the long-term benefits are worth the commitment.

This section is divided into seven parts.

Vision and Leadership. Strategies for school district leaders to support and expand service-learning at the district level.

Curriculum. Resources to systematically integrate service-learning into classroom curriculum, including alignment with state standards and the creation of performance indicators.

Professional Development. Resources to build long-lasting and consistent professional development for service-learning in school districts, including seminars, one-on-one work between faculty and service-learning trainers, and coursework for professional certification and graduate credit.

Partnership and Community. Strategies to establish and strengthen collaborative relationships with community or faith-based organizations, grassroots or advocacy organizations, schools, colleges, businesses, and government agencies.

Continuous Improvement. Resources on how to provide opportunities for staff, students, and community members to learn from and support each other on a regular basis, to improve practice, to celebrate successes, and to recognize student contributions.

District Lessons and Talk It Up Series. National Service-Learning Partnership publications that examine different strategies and actions steps to promote service-learning at the school district level.

Current Initiatives to Grow Service-Learning in School Districts. The National Service-Learning Partnership’s W.K. Kellogg Foundation Youth Innovation Fund and State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Initiative support the integration of service-learning at the district level. Many members’ work is similarly focused and will be highlighted in this section.