What is Student Service Learning?
A state graduation
requirement.
A teaching method
that addresses real
community need
through meaningful
service and
curriculum-based
learning.
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Give a Little Time,
Make a Big Difference
• High quality service learning promotes civic
knowledge, civic engagement, academic success,
character and social development in students.
• SSL neither substitutes for, nor replaces service
to families, neighbors, and/or fellow religious
organization members.
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A student involved in high quality
Service Learning activities:
– meets a recognized need in the community.
– achieves curricular objectives.
– gains necessary knowledge and skills.
– plans ahead.
– works with existing service organizations.
– develops a sense of responsibility.
– reflects throughout the experience.
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Requirement
• Beginning with the class of 2011, MCPS students will
complete 75 SSL hours for graduation.
• MCPS students may begin to work on this
graduation requirement the summer after completing
grade 5. They continue to accrue hours throughout
high school.
• The requirement is prorated according to first time
enrollment in MCPS after grade 6.
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MCPS SSL Prorating
Class of 2011
5
Enrolled in MCPS
Hours required for graduation
Grade 6
75
Grade 7
65
Grade 8
55
Grade 9
45
Grade 10
35
Grade 11
20
Grade 12
10
How can students earn SSL hours?
1.
Specific academic courses.
–
–
–
–
grade 6 Science
grade 7 English
grade 8 Social Studies
some high school electives
2. School-sponsored clubs
and organizations with service activities.
3. Pre-approved community organizations.
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Participation in School Sponsored
Clubs and Organizations
An entertainment event (play,
concert, game) qualifies for
SSL if it includes a charitable
component:
a target audience is involved.
or
a portion of the proceeds go to a
charitable cause.
or
donations for a charitable cause are
collected for later delivery to a
nonprofit organization.
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Examples of School SSL Activities
* Most service must occur outside the instructional day
TUTOR
•Support other students in academic areas.
CHILD CARE PROVIDER
Attend to children while parents meet for school-related functions.
PARTICIPANT
• Design events that increase cultural awareness and appreciation for diversity.
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE
Provide student voice on school committees and meetings (PTSA, Guidance Advisory Board,
Back- to-School Nights, and Open Houses)
STUDENT AIDE
•Support instructional program as part of daily schedule
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE
Provide student voice on MSDE advisory board
OR
Provide student voice on MCPS workgroup/taskforce, etc.
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This SSL activity
MAY be performed
during the
instructional day.
Participation with Approved
Community Organizations
• All SSL must be completed under the supervision of
nonprofit, tax-exempt community organizations.
• For profit nursing homes, and assisted living
facilities are the only exceptions to the nonprofit
rule. All SSL activities must directly contact the
patients/residents of these facilities.
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All Community SSL Participation
Must be Preapproved
Listed as Pre Approved on
www.mcpsssl.org
OR
Preapproved with MCPS
form 560-50 confirmed in
advance by the SSL
coordinator.
All preapproved SSL activities in the
community:
•Are secular in nature.
•Occur in a public place.
•Are supervised by a nonprofit representative.
(not a parent or relative)
•Are not compensated financially.
•Are not longer than 8 hours in a 24 hour period.
•Earn one hour of SSL for one hour of service.
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Three Phases of SSL:
1. Preparation
2. Action
3. Reflection
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1. Preparation
Provides students with the knowledge and skills
needed for service.
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2. Action
•
Direct service provides face-to-face contact with the
service recipients. These activities include tutoring young
children; serving meals at homeless shelters; working with
the elderly in nursing homes.
•
Indirect Service meets a need with no direct contact.
These activities include food & clothing collections and
environmental projects.
•
Advocacy shares viewpoints on issues of interest. These
activities include letter writing, public comment, and
participating in community activities.
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3. Reflection
Encourages students to rethink:
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•
the need they have addressed.
•
the service they have performed.
•
the impact of their service on the community.
•
what they learned about themselves.
Every Middle and High School has:
• An SSL Coordinator who maintains SSL
records on each student.
• MCPS SSL forms 560-50, 560-51. (these forms can
be downloaded from www.mcpsssl.org)
• SSL publications to share.
• System-wide guidelines to follow.
• An administrator who handles SSL disputes.
• Announcements regarding opportunities and
system-wide deadlines for forms.
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Student Responsibilities
1. Submit MCPS Form 560-50, Application for Student
Service Learning Special Activity to the SSL
coordinator for approval prior to performing service
with organizations not listed as pre-approved.
2. Students submit MCPS Form 560-51, Student
Service Learning Activity Verification to the SSL
coordinator after summer service, and after first and
second semester service.
3. Check SSL status on report card every 9 weeks and
report discrepancies to the SSL coordinator
immediately.
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MCPS Awards for Exceptional
Student Service Learning
 The Superintendent’s Student Service Learning Award
Middle school students who complete and document 75 or
more hours of service from May 2 to May 1 qualify. Every
student who qualifies is awarded a certificate and pin.
 Certificate of Meritorious Service
High school seniors who graduate with 260 or more SSL
hours receive this award from the Maryland State
Department of Education and MCPS.
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The MCPS SSL Program:
• supports high quality service-learning
experiences for all students.
• promotes habits of civic participation,
responsibility, and service.
• encourages full
participation in
American democratic
life.
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Give a Little Time, Make a Big Difference!