High Quality Standards

Caroline County students helping preserve
a historic mill site in their community.

Service-learning is an instructional strategy that combines meaningful service to the community with curriculum-based learning. Students improve their academic and civic skills by applying what they learn in school to the real world. Students then reflect on their experiences to reinforce the link between their service and their learning. 

Service-learning experiences also allow student to explore what it means to be an active, engaged citizen.

Students who are involved with high quality service-learning experiences perform better academically, are more engaged with school, and strengthen their teamwork, social, and civic participation skills.

Maryland’s Seven Best Practices for Service-Learning

• Address a recognized need in the community
• Achieve curricular objectives
• Reflect throughout the service-learning experience
• Develop student responsibility
• Establish community partnerships
• Plan ahead for service-learning
• Equip students with knowledge and skills needed for civic engagement

Resources

• Maryland's 7 Best Practices of Service-Learning: A Comparison to National K-12 Standards
• Maryland’s Seven Best Practices of Service-Learning
• Maryland Student Service-Learning Guidelines booklet
• Preparation, Action, Reflection
• Direct, Indirect, and Advocacy Service-Learning Projects
• Service-Learning Evaluation Tools
• Research on Outcomes of Service-Learning
  
  • Service-Learning Research, Civic Youth
  • Service-Learning Research, Wisconsin Department of Education
• Bring Learning to Life (video)