North Dakota
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Contents |
History
When the Red River of the North flooded catastrophically in 1997, students along the North Dakota-Minnesota border leaped into action to help protect and rebuild their communities. Hundreds of students climbed into school buses to ride to the front lines where they could stuff and stack sandbags against the rising waters.
Service-learning in North Dakota has long benefited from this cross-border spirit of collaboration. Schools, colleges, nonprofit organizations, and agencies from Fargo and West Fargo have repeatedly pooled resources, ideas, and energy with the community of Moorhead, Minnesota. A community-based grant to the State Extension Service based out of North Dakota State University in the mid-1990s supported regional planning, mini-grants, and staff development that still energizes teachers to lead service-learning projects today. In the late 1990s, the Minnesota Extension office in Moorhead channeled partnership-building resources into FirstLINK, the region’s volunteer center based in Fargo. Concordia College has been another consistent partner with school-based service-learning programs.
North Dakota first received Learn and Serve grants in 2004.
Networks of Support
The key service-learning partners in North Dakota are the Department of Commerce, the Department of Public Instruction and the North Dakota Supreme Court. A service-learning mentor or adviser program is offered through the North Dakota Workforce Council. The state does not facilitate networking of service-learning practitioners, however, service-learning is one component of a community school philosophy that includes 21st Century Schools, adult education, English Language Learner programs, and special education.
Valley City schools have carried out a service-learning program since 2000. The program, currently run by Service Learning/Asset Mentoring Coordinator Nicole Sufficool, has typically involved students in service alongside senior citizens and other adult volunteers, and has received support from community members and businesses. The goal of the Service Learning Program is to provide service-learning opportunities that help strengthen community needs and teaches civic responsibility to students. Mentors help develop relationships that empower our students to make positive life choices. Valley City Public Schools' plan focuses on creating a positive cultural change within their school climate, and service learning-opportunities are to be extended to grades K-3.
In 2008, the North Dakota Department of Commerce, Workforce Development Division secured funding to establish pilot projects under the Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG). Through this initiative, JAG‐North Dakota is seeking businesses to partner with local high schools to, amongst other thing, develop service- learning opportunities for students.
Higher Education
Launched in 2004, the University of North Dakota's Center for Community Engagement links academic resources with community needs and and answers UND's call to include both experiential and service-learning as vital to its student’s educational experience. Led by Director Lana Rakow, the Center strives to connect engagement, communities, and students. The Center carries out community asset mapping — a participatory approach to community development a collaborative economic development making the best use of a community's resource base.
Convening and Celebrating
A state conference and technical assistance help to forge these links. As that approach takes shape, service-learning has a key role to play in mobilizing students to improve their communities.
Policy Support
North Dakota does not have any statutes or academic standards on service-learning. However, some districts have service-learning requirements and a commitment to service-learning. The state does not fund service-learning beyond CNCS grants.
Learn and Serve
Statewide school-based service-learning in North Dakota has grown slowly. The state had no Learn and Serve school-based program as recently as 2004. As of 2008, a modest grant of $41,738 to the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction supports 695 participants in two sub-grantee programs. Additionally, Turtle Mountain Community College and Mountain Plains Network for Youth are subgrantees for out of state higher education and community-based grants, respectively, and involve an additional 1,085 participants. Learn and Serve has worked closely with the North Dakota Commission on National and Community Service to engage AmeriCorps members with schools.
Youth Contributions
The state does not have youth councils that advise policymakers.
Examples of Quality Service-Learning
- Helping Hands Summer Camp (Grand Forks, North Dakota)
- Discovering the Power of Service-Learning (Fargo, North Dakota)
References
- Cairn, Rich, Neal, Marybeth, and Crossley, Alison. 2006. "State Profiles" in Growing to Greatness 2006. St. Paul: National Youth Leadership Council.
External Links
- Learn and Serve America in North Dakota
- National Service in North Dakota (Corporation for National and Community Service)
- North Dakota State Commission on National and Community Service
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