Kentucky

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For 16 years, service-learning in Kentucky has leveraged its widespread and potent community education network. In 2000, this affiliation took formal shape. Today, the Kentucky Department of Education distributes Learn and Serve subgrants of $3,000 equally among the 100 counties (out of 120 total) that have Community Education.

Contents

History

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Networks of Support

Teachers and administrators in Kentucky must connect with community education directors to receive service-learning funding. This requirement creates unique opportunities for those working in community education to partner with those working in more traditional educational settings. Joan Howard, the program consultant with the Kentucky Department of Education who oversees the state’s Learn and Serve funding, finds that the connections that develop between teachers, administrators, and community educators lead to a fuller and more integrated education for students. Beyond community education, service-learning has been integrated into federally-funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers as well as state-funded Family Resource Youth Services Centers.

Empowering Youth

The grant application process in Kentucky is non-competitive, but grantees must meet three criteria. Grantees are required to have advisory boards that include at least 10-percent youths, an effort that has resulted in 97 young people serving on community education advisory boards across the state. Grantees must also provide at least one service-learning program in their county directed toward helping students make the transition from middle school to high school.

Convening and Celebrating

Each year students who participate in Learn and Serve-funded programs attend regional workshops where they present their service-learning projects to peers and educators. These workshops are sponsored by the Department of Education and organized by local districts.

Policy Support

In the fall of 2006, as part of a document meant to help state auditors assess school performance, the Board of Education introduced the following definition of service-learning: “A teaching methodology that allows students to learn and apply academic, social and personal skills to improve the community, continue individual growth, and become better citizens” (p.103) [1]. This document also includes a rubric that provides a rating of “exemplary” to schools at which “[s]ervice-learning opportunities are fully integrated in the education program of all students” (42).

The Department of Education is phasing in a new statewide student database over the course of the next several years which will include information on students’ participation in school-based service-learning.

Learn and Serve

Kentucky continues to utilize its network of county community education directors as point people for the state’s Learn and Serve funding as well as for service-learning technical support and trainings across the state. In 2007 the Kentucky Department of Education and Learn and Serve distributed grants equally among 56 community education directors (out of a total of 102 community education directors).

To receive Learn and Serve funds, every teacher must participate in service-learning training on the Preparation, Action, Reflection, Celebration (PARC) model. The Department of Education has offered regular “trainer of trainers” programs, thereby enabling each Community Education program to empower and support its own teachers and staff.

State trainings have included local and national expert trainers. The University of Kentucky Extension Service also assisted with these trainings. In the past two years, districts have joined together in eight regions of the state to offer networking and training around service-learning. Young people play prominent roles in these workshops.

Youth Contributions

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From 2000 to 2003, Learn and Serve funds supported the development of youth councils to more fully engage youths in decision-making as they serve on community councils. Currently more than 40 youth councils provide input and leadership for youth development and service-learning within school districts. When serving on community-wide councils, students set aside individual school loyalties to represent the total community.

Examples of Quality Service-Learning

References

  • ^  Kentucky Board of Education. (2006). School Level Performance Descriptors for Kentucky’s Standards and Indicators for School Improvement. Frankfort: Kentucky Department of Education.
  • 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.

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