Delaware
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Contents |
History
Delaware's Learn and Serve program began in 1992-93, with a major focus on literacy through "Delaware Reads." With a small population and small geography, Delaware stretched a relatively small amount of Learn and Serve funding to accomplish many goals. Using a combination of small subgrants, concentrated staff development, and a focus on service-learning as a strategy to meet standards, Delaware actively encouraged its many community service programs to become service-learning programs.
Networks of Support
Service-learning trainings are integrated with in-service trainings held at all schools in Delaware each fall. Trainings are offered by Department of Education staff as well as by teachers from the Leader School in each county. Leader Schools also serve as mentors for schools starting service-learning programs. Despite a recent request by an additional school to become a leader school, limited funding has kept the number to one per county.
Improving Sustainability
Over the course of the last few years, funding for service-learning has declined in Delaware, and educators have had to find more creative means for funding their service-learning programs. As of the 2003-2004 school year, schools receiving federal Safe and Drug-free Schools funds in Delaware were required to include service-learning in their programming, but that funding is no longer available. In addition, MBNA Banking Corporation, which had provided matching funds for local service-learning programs, merged with another company and no longer offers funding. The Department of Education continues to offer training and technical support to schools that received Learn and Serve funding in the past. These efforts have helped previous grantees sustain their service-learning efforts.
Convening and Celebrating
The Delaware Department of Education no longer hosts an annual service-learning conference in the state. However, the Governor recognizes young people who serve their communities at an annual Governor’s Youth Volunteer Awards banquet, attended by more than 600 youths, parents, teachers, administrators, and community leaders. Awards are given for group and individual service projects, and youths make presentations sharing their projects with those in attendance.
Policy Support
Many school now require service for graduation. Since 1998, Delaware has institutionalized youth service in a very real way by providing that Delaware high school juniors and seniors may earn one credit for 90 hours of service performed over two semesters. Seventy-nine students earned the Delaware Volunteer credit in 2003. Since its inception in 2000, 670 students have received this credit, but many students participating in service do not apply for the credit. The State Department of Education uses the credit program to encourage schools to participate in service-learning and is currently making an effort to boost the visibility of the Volunteer Credit program.
In the fall of 2007 the Department of Education began implementing Student Success Plans for every 8th and 9th grade student in the state. Student Success Plans are individualized online plans that help students make choices in high school, explore college and career options, and make the curriculum choices that help them to reach their goals. The Success Plans will include information on the Volunteer Credit and may boost its statewide visibility.
Learn and Serve
Learn and Serve supports 12 service-learning sites in the current grant cycle. Delaware’s Learn and Serve Coordinator also directs Department of Education initiatives relating to dropout prevention, school-to-work, and character education. The position is designed to help schools and districts focus on the needs of the whole child. Service-learning is presented as an effective pedagogical approach for achieving this goal. The Department of Education has also started the Connections to Learning program to help districts and schools consider carefully how student well-being influences academic outcomes. Connections to Learning highlights service-learning.
Youth Contributions
This section is in need of expansion. You can help by expanding it.
Examples of Quality Service-Learning
- Campus Community High School (Dover, Delaware)
- McIlvaine Early Childhood Center (Magnolia, Delaware)
References
- Cairn, Rich, Henning, Anna, and Neal, Marybeth. 2005. "State Profiles" in Growing to Greatness 2005. St. Paul: National Youth Leadership Council.
- Schultz, Nate. 2008. "State Profiles" in Growing to Greatness 2008. St. Paul: National Youth Leadership Council.
External Links
- Learn and Serve America in Delaware
- National Service in Delaware (Corporation for National and Community Service)
- Delaware Learn and Serve
- Governor's Commission on Community and Volunteer Service
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