Service-Learning, Civic Engagement & Character Education
Briefs
- 09/15/2006
- Youth Mentoring: Programs and Practices that Work with Jean E. Rhodes, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Boston; David L. DuBois, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Division of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois, Chicago; and Andrea S. Taylor, Ph.D., Director of Training, Center for Intergenerational Learning, Temple University. (FORUM
- 4/07/2006
- How Do High School Students Get Academic, Leadership, Work Skills, and Still Manage to Serve the Community? With students and faculty from Howenstine High School, Tucson, Arizona (Forum brief)
- 1/13/2006
- Charter Schools Providing Academically-Based Workforce Development for Out-of-School Youth: with Ann Higdon, president and founder of Improved Solutions of Urban Systems ISUS and Phil Matero, Deputy Director of the Los Angeles Conservation Corps. (Forum brief)
- 3/11/2005
- Restoring the Balance between Academics and Civic Engagement in Public Schools with Sarah Pearson, Program Associate, American Youth Policy Forum; Gene Carter, Executive Director and CEO, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development; Shelley H. Billig, Vice President, RMC Research; Barbara Greenspan Shaiman, Founder and Executive Director, Champions of Caring, Ann Marie Marranzini, English Teacher, University City High School, Philadelphia, PA; and Shanae Bentley, Senior, University City High School, Philadelphia, PA. (Press Release)
- 3/19/2004
- Creating Academically Proficient and Civically Engaged Students- Through the No Child Left Behind Act (Part 3) Through the Lens of Practitioners and Administrators - Finding Common Ground: Joining Forces to Close the Achievement and Civic Development Gap, with Sheldon Berman, Superintendent of Schools, Hudson School District; John Taylor Gatto, author and New York Educator of the Year, 1990; Mary Rodgers, District Service-Learning Facilitator, Abington School District; John Schmidt, Director of Service-Learning, Office of High School Development, Chicago Public Schools. (Forum Brief)
- 2/20/2004
- Creating Academically Proficient and Civically Engaged Students - Through the No Child Left Behind Act (Part 2) Through the Lens of State Policymakers - Raising Academic Achievement While Supporting Civic Development, with Suellen Reed, State Superintendent of Indiana; Terry Bergeron, State Superintendent of Washington; and Elizabeth Burmaster, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Wisconsin. (Forum Brief)
- 1/23/2004
- Creating Academically Proficient and Civically Engaged Students Through the No Child Left Behind Act (Part 1) Through the lens of Researchers -- Implementation of No Child Left Behind (NCLB): What Role for Civic Development? with Shelley H. Billig, Vice President, RMC Research; Andy Furco, Director, Service-Learning Research and Development Center University of California-Berkeley; Elliott Medrich, Director, Policy Analysis and Development, MRP Associates; William Galston, Director, Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy, University of Maryland and CIRCLE (The Center for Information& Research on Civic Learning & Engagement); and Judith Torney-Purta, Professor, University of Maryland. (Forum Brief)
- 6/27/2003
- Community Schools (Forum brief)
- 3/28/2003
- How Youth Become Effective Citizens – Models for Engaging Youth in Policy, with Ben Smilowitz, youth leader, Quentin Wilson, Missouri State Commissioner of Higher Education, and other youth leaders from San Francisco and the State of Missouri. (Forum Brief)
- 3/21/2003
- “Generation DotNet”: A Contrast in Civic and Political Behavior. Staff from CIRCLE (Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement), and Pew Charitable Trusts discuss findings from their new study of the nation’s civic life, with an emphasis on youth. (Forum Brief)
- 1/10/2003
- A New Civic Institution for the New Century, with Alan Khazei, City Year, Jim Kielsmeier, National Youth Leadership Council, and Shirley Sagawa, Sagawa/Jospin. (Forum Brief)
- 3/14/2001
- What's the Future of Service-Learning in Education Reform? with Shelley H. Billig, Vice President and Researcher, RMC Research Corporation; Kenneth Holdsman, Service-Learning Director, School District of Philadelphia; John Kounas, Legislative Fellow (and former high school teacher), Office of Senator Charles E. Grassley; and Jane Oates, Legislative Assistant, Office of Senator Edward M. Kennedy. (Forum Brief)
- 3/13/2000
- Youth Engaged in Communities Through School: A Perspective From One National Service-Learning Leader School (Forum Brief)
Trip Reports
- 2/14/2005
- Exploring Service-Learning as a Way to Increase Student Academic Performance and Civic Involvement visit to Friendship Edison Public Carter School in Washington, DC. The field tip featured a tour and discussion on the adoption, implementation and sustainability of service-learning as a way to engage students in increasing academic and civic skills. (Trip Report)
- 4/29/2003
- Civics in Action: DC Students Changing the Course of Public Policy at the Cesar Chavez Public Charter High School, with Charles Haynes of First Amendment Schools Project and Irasema Salcido, Principal, Cesar Chavez Public Policy High School. (Trip Report)
- 10/29/2002 -
10/30/2002 - Connecting Classrooms - Communities - Careers Through Service-Learning-On this two-day visit to Boston Public Schools (BPS), policymakers were introduced to collaborative developments in teaching pedagogy between service-learning and school to career in the classroom. (Trip Report)
- 5/10/2001 -
5/11/2001 - How Does A City Effectively Serve All Its Youth, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with visits to Edison High School (a Talent Development model), Frankford High School (career-themed small learning communities), University City High School and Drew School (K-8) (service-learning through school-university partnerships), Youth for Change Charter School (YouthBuild model), and a Youth Opportunity Center. (Trip Report)
- 12/4/2000 -
12/5/2000 - A Look at Service-Learning in South Carolina, with visits to Spring Valley High School and Wren High School. (Trip Report)
- 5/1/1997 -
5/2/1997 - Community Service Learning in Springfield, MA: A Process for Youth Development, Career Preparation and Community Building, with visits to Putnam High School and Freedman Elementary School; participation in Springfield's "Community Service Learning Showcase" Conference; and discussions with Peter J. Negroni, Superintendent of Schools, and other community and education leaders. (Trip Report)
- 12/6/1999 -
12/7/1999 - High School Reform Efforts in Chicago, with visits to a New American High Schools and an Education-to-Careers school. (Trip Report)
- 7/26/1996
- Connecting Youth, Work and Community, Visions Youthworks, Harrisburg, PA, with John Briscoe, Executive Director and visits with participants in the Visions Youthworks program. (Trip Report)
- 6/8/1995 -
6/9/1995 - New Visions for School and Community, in The Bronx and Brooklyn, New York, programs that bring together elementary, middle and high schools with employers, offer career awareness, community service and work-site learning tied to academic credits for young people and jobs and training for young adults. (Trip Report)
Publications
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Building
an Effective Citizenry: Lessons Learned From Initiatives in Youth Engagement In 2002-2003, American Youth Policy Forum conducted a series of forums and field trips, each focused on issues related to the development of effective citizenry and youth engagement. Participants in these experiences had the opportunity to learn about the wide variety of work currently taking place to help young people take action in their schools and communities and to become engaged and effective citizens. Researchers presented recent findings about youth civic engagement, and leaders from youth organizations discussed their efforts to engage young people in education reform, service-learning, and community activism. |
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In
Service to Our Nation A Guide to the Members of the National & Community Service Coalition The National and Community Service Coalition (NCSC) is a growing number of organizations that provide an invaluable service to the nation in so many ways. This publication will introduce the reader to NCSC member organizations, highlighting the good works they have accomplished in service to our nation. Many members represented here have included their position or thoughts on the pending reauthorization of the National and Community Service Act, a piece of legislation important to the Service field. (Only available in PDF) |
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Finding
Common Ground: Service-Learning and Education Reform A new AYPF report reveals areas of compatibility between Comprehensive School Reform (CSR) programs leaders in education reform and elements of service-learning. For example, most CSR programs (or models) in the report provide opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and skills to real-life situations, address local community issues and interests, and develop civic skills and competencies. There has been a suspected compatibility between service-learning and CSR, but no one has asked CSR models directly until now. It remains to be seen whether these two educational movements collaborate to develop a unified approach to linking classroom academics to service in school or the community, providing a truly comprehensive education for America’s children and youth. |
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Restoring the Balance between Academics and
Civic Engagement in Public Schools The report, released by the American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF), in partnership with the Association for Supervision and Curriculum (ASCD), questions the current focus on core academic subjects at the expense of an equally important role: preparing students to be engaged and effective citizens. The report is the product of collaborative discussion among policymakers, education practitioners, community groups, parents, and youth across the nation. The report offers a seven-step action plan to help schools refocus on the goal of creating both academically proficient and civically engaged students. The report also highlights several programs, including school-community partnerships that promote both quality academics and civic engagement. |