SERVICE-LEARNING SCHOOLS OF SUCCESS AWARD
Request for Applications: Overview
Background
ECS is a national, nonprofit organization that works with governors, state legislators, state
education leaders and others to develop policies to improve public education at all levels.
ECS, through its National Center for Learning and Citizenship (NCLC), will provide 10
schools with two-year awards to honor their achievement and success. This is also an
opportunity for schools with significant service-learning experience to contribute to an
understanding of the conditions necessary to integrate and sustain quality service-learning
within their schools.
ECS/NCLC recently received a three-year grant from the State Farm Companies Foundation
focused on leadership development, networking, quality implementation and sustainability
to:
Increase student achievement and success in their school and community by enhancing the
knowledge, skills and will of education policymakers and education leaders to increase state and
district policies reflecting the components of quality service-learning.
By honoring existing quality practices and establishing a Service-Learning Schools of Success
Network, NCLC will build upon previous work through the Learning In Deed, Every
Student A Citizen and Anchoring the Investment initiatives, and seven Education Leadership
Colloquia. These national efforts established a framework and a set of strategies to help
strengthen and sustain high-quality service-learning through state policy and corresponding
practices.
Over the past eight years there has been significant progress to increase awareness of servicelearning nationally, due in part to the leadership of the State Farm Companies Foundation.
This awareness has led to an increase in the number of schools adopting service-learning and
improving the corresponding principles of good practice. As with most movements, service1
learning progress raises new challenges to successfully integrate and sustain quality
practices, requiring enhanced strategies to achieve the desired positive impact on students.
Specifically, as we continue to advance service-learning as an effective teaching and learning
strategy, the following questions surface.





What are the necessary conditions for service-learning to become a common
component of teaching and learning strategies of all schools?
What are the sample policies and practices states and districts can consider, adopt
and/or adapt to sustain quality service-learning?
How do we maximize current service-learning leaders and develop the next
generation of advocates for service-learning?
How do we assess the impacts of service-learning on students and continuously
improve the quality of service-learning for anticipated results?
What are the most effective strategies to advance service-learning as a priority for
policymakers and education leaders as they focus on student achievement?
Expectations of Selected Schools
ECS will provide the 10 selected schools with an award of $10,000 over two years. In turn,
selected schools will be expected to participate in data collection, knowledge sharing and
Network meetings. ECS will provide additional support for schools to participate in the
Network and share knowledge, best practices and policies, and deepen service-learning in
their school, district, state and nation.
Internal Responsibilities
 Identify and inventory best practices and policies at their school

Work collaboratively with their district to expand and deepen existing servicelearning initiatives, and build greater capacity

Identify barriers to service-learning sustainability and strategies for overcoming them

Collect and analyze data for continuous improvement and glean lessons learned.
External Responsibilities
 Share best practices and policies with the Network

Participate in the Network and national advocacy campaign.
In supporting the schools, ECS will (1) provide technical assistance to schools to help them
more fully integrate quality service-learning, (2) share policies that support service-learning
(3) create products that inform and encourage other states, districts and schools to
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incorporate service-learning.
Guidelines for Applications
Schools interested in submitting an application to participate in this Service-Learning Schools
of Success Network in recognition of their quality service-learning practice are required to:
1. Complete and submit the "Intent to Apply Form" no later than February 27, 2009.
2. Submit a completed application including attachments no later than 5:00 P.M. (Mountain
Time) March 31, 2009.
A completed application, not to exceed 15 double-spaced pages (excluding attachments), will
answer the following questions:
1. What is the current state of the school’s K-12 service-learning activities? (Please
include program strategies, staffing, funding streams, the scope and sequence of
service-learning practice and policy. Also, identify the process by which this
information has been collected and compiled.)
2.
In what ways is the school leadership capable of broadening service-learning practice
in the district?
3. What efforts are now taking place to deepen service-learning at the school level and
broaden service-learning at the district level?
4. Identify ways the school can assist the district to be more supportive of quality
service-learning and long-term sustainability?
5. What types of service-learning professional development are offered by the school to
increase the knowledge and skills of leaders, practitioners and community partners?
6. Identify successful strategies for service-learning community-school partnerships.
7. What are the qualifications of key school personnel responsible for integrating and
sustaining service-learning?
8. What specific skills, competencies, systems and prior experiences prepare the school to
effectively share their experience for improving service-learning practice, reducing
institutional barriers and advancing institutionalization?
9. What specific changes will the school and district experience as a result of the school’s
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participation in this Network?
10. What specific impacts will this initiative have on students? What assessment
processes will be employed to determine this impact?
11. What measures will be taken to ensure data are used for continuous improvement?
12. Identify strategies for integrating service-learning throughout the curriculum.
The selection committee will review all qualifying nominations and select a group of finalists
by May 1, 2009. Representatives of the selection committee will schedule site visits to review
applications and collect additional information to select the 10 schools. It is anticipated that
the final selection will be made by May 31, 2009.
Attachments
Schools may attach specific resources that support application responses (attachments not to
exceed 10 pages). Therefore, total number of pages of narrative and attachments should not
exceed 25 pages.
Please submit one unbound original and five copies of a completed application by March 31,
2009 to:
Attn: Executive Director
National Center for Learning and Citizenship
Education Commission of the States
700 Broadway, Ste. 810
Denver, Colorado 80203-3442
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RUBRIC FOR DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY
This rubric is intended for internal use only to assist schools in determining self-selection and
eligibility. The Selection Committee is looking for schools that perform in the 4-5 range.
Directions: Indicate a score of 1-5 for each of the five criteria below. A score of 5 indicates that each of
the subsets is currently met. Refer to the scoring guide below for more detail.
CRITERIA
TOTAL
VISION &
LEADERSHIP
Maximizes
Current
Leaders
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
Improves
School
Climate
COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIPS
Promotes
ServiceLearning
with
Education
Leaders
Assesses
Impact of
ServiceLearning on
Students and
Community
Common
Component
of
Curriculum
CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT
CURRICULUM &
ASSESSMENT
Cultivates
Next
Generation of
ServiceLearning
Leaders
ServiceLearning is an
Integrated Part
of Teaching
and Learning
Partners with
Community
Promotes
ServiceLearning with
Education
Leaders
Creates
Policies that
Support
ServiceLearning
Bi-annual
ServiceLearning
Professional
Development
Shares
Resources
with Other
Schools
Supports
Professional
Learning
Communities
Evaluates
ServiceLearning
Impact on
Academic
Achievement
21st Century
Skill & Career
Development
Creates
Professional
Learning
Communities
Evaluates
Impact on
Drop-Out Rate
ServiceLearning as
the Preferred
Pedagogy
Measures
Outcomes
Shares Data
with Other
Schools
SCORING GUIDE
1= Needs Improvement/Service-Learning in Planning Stages
2 = Begun First Stages of Implementation
3 = Implementation Almost Complete/Lacks Assessment
4 = Completed Full Implementation & Beginning to Monitor
5 = All Subset Areas Implemented for 2+ Years & Continues to Monitor for
Improvement
5
INTENT TO APPLY FORM
Name of School:
Intent to Apply:
__
Yes, the school identified above intends to
submit an application.
__
No, the school identified above does not intend
to submit an application although we would
like to receive information and updates on the
Network's progress.
Signature of School Principal
Date
Please submit this form by mail or fax (303-296-8332) by February 27, 2009 to:
Executive Director
National Center for Learning and Citizenship
Education Commission of the States
700 Broadway, Ste. 810
Denver, Colorado 80203-3442
Fax: 303-296-8332
By marking Yes above and submitting this form, you intend to return a completed
application by March 31, 2009. If you have questions or need additional information, please
contact the NCLC executive director at 303-299-3636.
Thank you very much for your consideration.
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A Service-Learning Initiative:
Schools of Success Network
Application Form (please print)
School Name:
School Principal:
Phone and Fax Numbers:
E-Mail Address:
Address:
Contact Person (for any questions concerning the application)
Name
Phone and Fax Numbers:
E-Mail Address:
______
Address:
Signature of School Principal
Date
Please submit five copies of this form and all attachments by 5:00 P.M. (Mountain Time)
March 31, 2009 to:
Executive Director
National Center for Learning and Citizenship
Education Commission of the States
700 Broadway, Ste. 810
Denver, Colorado 80203-3442
303.299.3636
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A Service-Learning Initiative:
Schools of Success Network
Timeline
January 2009
Release of Request for Applications
February 27, 2009
Intent to Apply Form Due Date
March 31, 2009
Completed Application Due Date
May 1, 2009
Selection of Finalists
May 2009
Site Visits to Finalists
May 31, 2009
Final Selection of Schools
All Forms and Applications should be sent to:
Executive Director
National Center for Learning and Citizenship
Education Commission of the States
700 Broadway, Ste. 810
Denver, Colorado 80203-3442
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