Nevada

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Contents

History

Beginning in 1997, the Learn and Serve program of the Nevada Department of Career and Technical Education Office in the Nevada Department of Education dispersed many small, one-year project grants to teachers and schools. Projects included a bicycle repair shop; a high school/elementary mentoring partnership that constructed a playground; and, in the wake of September 11, 2001, a song and dance review on a theme of unity and courage.

From 2000 to 2003, a Corporation for National and Community Service Community-Higher Education-Schools Partnership (CHESP) grant allowed Nevada to strengthen its capacity for service-learning. Four of 17 counties (two rural and two urban) built partnerships around local “Community Chest” organizations. Activists from the four communities spearheaded the formation of the now defunct Nevada Service-Learning Partnership (NSLP). In 2003, 50 teachers participated in intensive training at Nova University of Las Vegas.

Networks of Support

Since 1997, Nevada’s Learn and Serve program has provided grants to support service-learning in the state. From 2000 to 2003, a Corporation for National and Community Service Community-Higher Education-Schools Partnership grant allowed Nevada to strengthen its capacity for service- learning. Four of 17 counties (two rural and two urban) built partnerships around local “Community Chest” organizations.

In 2003, the Department of Education chose the Nevada Future Farmers of America Foundation to administer the Learn and Serve program. The foundation chose to administer larger grants for one-year projects. Some of these projects have included a high school/junior high mentoring partnerships to explore careers, a soil testing and education center, and a community garden. Nevada's Learn and Serve program has chosen to emphasize partnership building. Each Learn and Serve subgrantee is required to create at least five partnerships. Many of these partnerships have provided the subgrantees with the structure to sustain the project. Subgrantees are also encouraged to have an advisory committee. Many of these committees assist in sustaining the project beyond the grant year.

In 2007, Nevada Commission for National and Community Service, Inc. was renamed Nevada Volunteers. It works to boost volunteerism in the state and also promotes service and service-learning opportunities.

Convening and Celebrating

The state offers technical assistance training twice a year to the subgrantees. Most of this training relates to the grant. However, methods addressing reflection and celebration are also part of the trainings.

Service-learning training also occurs through the annual Nevada Association of Career and Technical Education Conference. The Nevada Commission for National and Community Service holds an annual awards banquet.

Subgrantees and participants can be nominated for an award through the state coalition. In 2007, a student was recognized under the service-learning division.

Each subgrantee is required to have some type of celebration activity/event. Based on the project, this has varied between subgrantees. Some activities have included a ribbon cutting, pizza party, field day, and a field trip.

Evaluating Progress

Through the subgrantees, the state administers pre and post surveys to the participants. A post survey is also administered to the community partners.

Policy Support

Service-learning has no explicit mention in state statutes or academic standards. Service-learning does not count toward graduation requirements. Currently, Nevada does not fund service-learning beyond CNCS grants.

Learn and Serve

To build local capacity, Nevada Learn and Serve, managed by Heather Dye - Executive Director of the Nevada FFA Foundation, concentrates resources on three annual sub-grants. Recipients must develop local resources to carry on the program after that year. Up to six subgrants can be awarded each year, but usually three are awarded. Each of the 17 school districts are eligible to apply for a one-year grant in a competitive process. In 2008, the subgrantees were the Lincoln, Elko, and Washoe County School Districts, who involved nearly 600 student participants. In addition to the school-based grant awarded to NDE, the Fort McDermitt Paiute Shoshone Tribe receives a separate school-based grant that involves 151 participants. The state receives $173,566 between the two grants.

Youth Contributions

Through the grants, students have contributed countless hours to their communities. They have served as mentors, initiators, and laborers to complete valuable community-based projects.

Examples of Quality Service-Learning

References

  • Cairn, Rich, Henning, Anna, and Neal, Marybeth. 2005. "State Profiles" in Growing to Greatness 2005. St. Paul: National Youth Leadership Council.

External Links


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