KIDS Consortium
From Service-Learning Wiki
| This program was profiled in Growing to Greatness 2004. |
teachers, administrators, and students to involve students in addressing real challenges faced by their communities. KIDS provides tools and training around its KIDS as Planners service-learning model for educators and community organizations, and assists local education and community leaders to sustain and integrate service-learning into local culture, practice, and policy.
KIDS has received support from the Corporation for National and Community Service, Gulf of Maine Council, U.S Environmental Protection Agency,Academy for Educational Development — National Service-Learning Partnership, Carnegie Corporation, the Center for Civic Education, the Education Commission of the States Horizon Foundation; Surdna Foundation; W.K. Kellogg Foundation and several state agencies and foundations in Maine, as well as individual donors.
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Service-Learning in KIDS Consortium
The KIDS as Planners Service-Learning Model is based on three key principles: academic integrity, apprentice citizenship, and student ownership. Academic Integrity: KIDS projects grow out of community needs yet are carefully connected to state learning standards and local curriculum requirements.
Student Ownership: KIDS projects are student-driven. Students select the projects, plan them, and implement them, but work with adults (teachers and community members) as equal partners. Students practice making decisions through small group work, classroom meetings, and one-on-one interactions with adults. The adults share in learning, acting more as partners than experts. By working alongside students and providing role models, community members can enhance students' aspirations.
Apprentice Citizenship: The KIDS model views young people as vital community members who can apply their knowledge, skills, and energy to local and regional challenges. Students work successfully with local institutions and professionals to design products and services with lasting benefits. In the process, they develop civic competencies and skills needed for effective citizenship: critical thinking, conflict resolution, attentive listening, information-gathering, cooperation, decision-making, advocacy, and problem-solving.
To help local schools and communities implement these core principles, KIDS staff provide workshops and trainings for teachers, community members and students; host forums and events; provides awards to local programs and provide tools (such as the KIDS as Planners workbook).
Scope of Service-Learning
The KIDS As Planners service-learning model is currently being employed in nearly 50 school districts in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and Rhode Island. KIDS has also expanded its efforts into Florida, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Texas in recent years. Annually, over 12,000 students, 750 teachers, and thousands of community partners, parents and volunteers participate in KIDS projects.
Intended Outcomes
KIDS Consortium has collaborated with the National Center for Student Aspirations at the University of Maine at Orono to develop a student survey instrument to help gauge the impacts of KIDS service-learning projects on participating youth.The survey, called “KIDS Speak,” was created to provide information on the extent to which KIDS projects impact five areas: motivation to learn; attitudes toward community; communication, decision-making and problem-solving skills; attitudes toward self and working with others; and career awareness.
