Not so. It's already part of the state curriculum.

Service-Learning

Instructional strategy whereby students learn academic content standards by participating in organized service that addresses community needs and fosters civic responsibility.

CalServe K-12 Service-Learning Initiative

Background

Background information on the CalServe K-12 Service-Learning Initiative and the Corporation for National and Community Service, Learn and Serve America.

CalServe Initiative

CalServe Fact Sheet (DOC; 350KB; 1p.)

Corporation for National and Community Service

Learn and Serve America Fact Sheet (PDF; Outside Source)

Overview of Service-Learning

Information on the instructional method known as service-learning.

What is Service-Learning?

What is Community Service?

Resources

California Service-Learning Leader Schools Awards Program
The California Department of Education and State Farm Insurance are proud to sponsor the second annual CDE CalServe Initiative Service-Learning Leader Schools Awards Program.

Funding
Requests for applications and funding results for service-learning programs.

District Tools and Resources
Service-learning tools and resources for school districts including the 2000-06 Sustainability Survey Results, Service-Learning Task Force Report, research and evaluation, and state and national links.

District Models

CalServe Partnerships
Locate a CalServe Partnership in your region.
Grantee Information
Grants management forms and information for CalServe Partnership grantees.

Regional Networks

Regional Leads
Grantee Information
Grants management forms and information for CalServe Regional Lead grantees.

Listserv
Join the CalServe Listserv to share ideas and ask for advice about service-learning.

Contact CalServe

Questions: Counseling, Student Support, and Service-Learning Office | 916-323-2183

Download Free Readers

Through the CalServe Initiative, the California Department of Education has been supporting a Statewide Regional Service-Learning Network (Outside Source) and districtwide school-community partnerships that annually involve over 120,000 students and approximately 15,000 community volunteers in urban, rural and suburban communities throughout the state. It is CDE's vision that 50 percent of all districts will include service-learning as part of their regular instructional practice, engaging students in at least one service-learning experience at each grade span (K-5, 6-8, and 9-12).

Locate a CalServe Partnership in Your Region

Region 1 - Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, and Sonoma counties

Region 2 - Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity counties

Region 3 - Alpine, Colusa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba counties

Region 4 - Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, and Solano counties

Region 5 - Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz counties

Region 6 - Amador, Calaveras, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne counties

Region 7 - Fresno, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, and Tulare counties

Region 8 - Kern, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties

Region 9 - Imperial, Orange, and San Diego counties

Region 10 - Riverside, Inyo, Mono, and San Bernardino counties

Regions 11 & 12 - Los Angeles County and Los Angeles Unified School District

It is CDE's vision that 50 percent of all districts will include service-learning as part of their regular instructional practice, engaging students in at least one service-learning experience at each grade span (K-5, 6-8, and 9-12).

But this shows it is an option, not a requirement for each district. We've been lucky and always been in somewhat conservative areas. Looks like it's more important than ever that parents investigate the schools and districts before they decide to send their kids there. Same with private schools - so many are no better than public. Silly to give academic credit for public service - just another way to water down academics so kids are too stupid to understand who and what they are voting for.

Homeschooling is by far the best - for yet another reason now. I hope Obama and the other socialists don't take away that right.

Thanks for the link. I'll add it to my list of reasons why my friends should homeschool. (Those that ask me, anyway. ;)