Ohio
From Service-Learning Wiki
Ohio's service-learning success has grown out of many locally-based efforts with teachers, students, and community members who believe that service-learning strengthens academic learning, builds strong community relationships, and fosters the development of Ohio's next generation of leaders.
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History
In 1999, Ohio developed 12 regional service-learning cooperatives. The same year, the state implemented an Urban Initiative that brought service-learning to eight urban schools. The state also launched a statewide Career Based Intervention Program in service-learning and partnered with the Buckeye Ranch to promote a statewide service-learning program called "Silence the Violence."
In 2000, Ohio conducted a statewide evaluation using the Essential Elements of Service-Learning, launched Make a Difference Day organized by a steering committee of 40 organizations, and the state also received a CHESP grant to develop youth grantmaking councils.
In 2003, during the state's bicentennial celebration, the John Glenn Institute at the Ohio State University, in collaboration with the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, supported the Ohio Bicentennial Service-Learning Schools Project (OBS) that involved schools across the state in curriculum-linked activities surrounding the bicentennial. [1]
Networks of Support
All streams of service in Ohio collaborate. Ohio launched a Citizen Corps Homeland Security grant including school-based service-learning. Learn and Serve Ohio receives state and Corporation for National and Community Service funding. Service-learning plays a prominent role in the Ohio Community Service Commission’s Unified State Plan.
Safety in Ohio Through Service (SOS) is program is a Replicable Statewide Service-Learning Model for Homeland Security which integrates K-12 youth into the service-learning and volunteerism components of Ohio’s broad and on-going homeland security efforts. It builds upon state and local collaborations through the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) and Learn and Serve Ohio. Building upon state and local partnerships with businesses, private schools, first responders, faith-based and community organizations, six Local Education Agencies (LEAs) will develop prototypes of homeland security related service-learning projects in Urban, Rural and Suburban populations. More than 20 modules have been developed an each has a guidebook that is available for download.
Since 1997, the Ohio Department of Education and Ohio Campus Compact have advanced a K-16 partnership for service-learning with a joint website and publications, 10 Community- Higher Education-School Partnership (CHESP) sub-grants (2000-2003), ongoing K-16 partnership mini-grants, a joint state program directory, and collaboration on training and evaluation.
Since 1999, Learn and Serve Ohio has published a comprehensive annual report documenting program activities and featuring a focus on a larger state initiative such as civic engagement or homeland security.
Convening and Celebrating
Ohio hosts an annual conference, Forging New Links, focused on service-leaning, volunteerism and giving that is supported by the CNCS state office, Ohio Campus Compact, Ohio's Community Service Council, the Ohio Department of Education, Learn and Serve Ohio, The Ohio State University, and the Ohio Volunteer Center Association. Training is provided on topics such as service-learning, volunteer administration, and national service, which helps participants to achieve greater impacts in their programs.
Each spring, the “Forging New Links” service conference convenes 400 participants from all streams of service. Learn and Serve holds an annual meeting during the conference and offers many targeted workshops. Forty organizations organize Ohio Make A Difference Day each fall, mobilizing hundreds of service projects.
Learn & Serve Ohio sponsors service-learning training workshop to offer a basic understanding of what service-learning is and how it can be used to enhance and enrich classroom teaching and learning, K-16. It is intended to serve as a resource for educators and agency staff who are then able to train colleagues in strategies for planning, implementing, and evaluating successful service-learning programs in their own areas. Participants who complete the two-day training are certified as “Service-Learning Trainers".
Evaluating Progress
Between 1998 and 2000, Learn and Serve participation in Ohio increased from 44,000 to 57,000 students, with the number of service beneficiaries doubling from 44,000 to 84,782 in the same timeframe. In 2000, these students contributed an estimated 782,250 hours of service to their communities, a contribution valued at $4 million. [2]
Policy Support
Ohio’s graduation standards require students to show that they can apply academic content, offering an avenue to integrate service-learning into the academic curriculum. Social studies standards infuse service-learning links. Learn and Serve programs link to other state priorities, including School-to-Work, character education, and Continuous Improvement Plans.
Ohio’s First Lady, Hope Taft, has been an ardent spokesperson for the Ohio Community Service Council and for service-learning. She helped promote Make a Difference Day and integration of service-learning into state academic standards.
Ohio has adopted a formal definition of service-learning and it is incorporated into state academic standards. However, there is no statewide program for service-learning to count toward graduation requirements.
Learn and Serve
Learn and Serve Ohio’s vision is to make service learning a vital part of Ohio’s education system. Currently, Ohio receives the Learn and Serve K-12 formula grant valued at $651,801 and the state provides no supplemental funding for service-learning activities. This grant, which involves 22,561 participants across 41 subgrantees, is managed by Charlotte Jones-Ward, who currently serves full-time as SEA for the state through the Ohio Department of Education.
In addition to the school-based grant, the state also receives a K-12 Community-based grant through Sojourner's Care Network, an assets-based youth development organization that serves Appalachian Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Higher Education grants totalling $427,324 are also awarded to Otterbein College, Oberlin College, and the Ohio State University Research Foundation and involve an additional 20,623 participants in service-learning.
Since 1997, ODE has employed a unique strategy based on four guiding principles to help school-based sub-grantees advance:
- Develop a solid foundation of school and community support through the planning process;
- Foster the development of high-quality programming by encouraging ongoing training, continuous improvement, and expansion each year;
- Encourage sustainability through the integration of service-learning into the academic curriculum, connecting service-learning to school improvement efforts, build strong partnerships through equal participation of schools and communities; and
- Utilize the expertise of service-learning practitioners to build statewide capacity.
School districts begin with a one-year planning grant of up to $3,000. During the first year, grantees attend a two-day orientation and receive the Learn and Serve Ohio Training Manual. [3] Additionally, two new grantees pair up with a seasoned mentor for training, site visits, and coaching. A culminating event helps bring it all together when the grantees attend the annual “Forging New Links” conference where they complete a three-year service-learning plan, which will be implemented over the course of the next three-year cycle of funding. Once new grantees have received training and support at the state level, they are equipped to train teachers and community partners locally.
Second year sub-grantees receive up to $15,000 and support to begin implementation. Ohio encourages second year and higher sub-grantees to attend the National Service-Learning Conference. All sub-grantees must attend the Ohio conference. In the third year, sub-grantees again receive up to $15,000 to expand, including increasing adult volunteers. Fourth year sub-grantees receive up to $10,000 and help building long-term local support.
Schools may apply for three more years of funding at $30,000 per year. These model programs must expand participation, and deepen integration into the curriculum and district “Continuous Improvement Plans.” Models provide training and technical assistance statewide, mentor new programs, and integrate support into Ohio’s regional education structure. Models typically have one to three key leaders who train and mobilize a cadre of supporters. Programs measure progress according to NYLC’s “Essential Elements of Effective Service-Learning” (available at http://www.nylc.org/bookstore).
Ohio schools can apply for up to seven years of continuous funding, through different types of grants, for a total of $133,000.
This process has established a dozen local centers of excellence. In addition, many strong service-learning programs have been developed without Learn and Serve funding. Family and consumer science, and vocational-technical education both developed service-learning initiatives prior to Learn and Serve funding becoming available.
Youth Contributions
This section is in need of expansion. You can help by expanding it.
Examples of Quality Service-Learning
References
- Brown, Nelda, Kielsmeier, Jim, Neal, Marybeth, Potts, Stan, et al. 2003. "State of the States: An Outline." In The Generator 21(3):36-42.
- Cairn, Rich, Henning, Anna, and Neal, Marybeth. 2005. "State Profiles" in Growing to Greatness 2005. St. Paul: National Youth Leadership Council.
- ^ "Growth of Service-Learning in Ohio". Learn and Serve Ohio. Retrieved June 30, 2004 from http://www.ohiok-16service.org/ode/odeprofile.cfm.
- ^ Learn and Serve Ohio Training Manual. Retrieved July 8, 2008 from http://www.learnandserveohio.org/lso_programmanagers.htm.
- ^ "Ohio Bicentennial Service-Learning Schools Project." The John Glenn Institute. Retrieved July 2, 2008 from http://www.glenninstitute.org/glenn/pubser_OHbicentennial_index.asp.
- Safrity. R.D. and Auck. A.W. (2003). "Volunteerism, Community Service, and Service-Learning by Ohio 4-H'ers in Grades 4-12." Journal of Extention 41(4).
External Links
- Learn and Serve America in Ohio
- National Service in Ohio (Corporation for National and Community Service)
- Ohio Community Service Council
- Learn and Serve Ohio
- Ohio Campus Compact
- Sojourners Care Network
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