Over the past decade, Illinois has emerged as a national exemplar of how state policy can drive systemic change in civics education. The Illinois Civic Mission Coalition, a pan-ideological alliance of educators, policymakers, and civic organizations, has shaped the state's civics education vision. The coalition built a scalable infrastructure of…

In an effort to provide graduate students at a distance with field-based learning experiences and evaluation resources to statewide Extension programs, 24 Master's students participating in a distance-delivered program evaluation course served as evaluation consultants for Extension programs. State evaluation specialists unable to conduct…

Kentucky service learning initiatives include (1) inclusion of Learn and Serve America in the state department of education; (2) leadership of the Kentucky Community Education Association; (3) increased state funding for community education; and (4) integration of community education and service learning through collaborative projects. (SK)

A review of Utah service learning programs leads to the following recommendations: (1) listen to community needs; (2) involve youth in planning service activities; and (3) collaborate with other community programs serving youth. (SK)

In South Carolina, service learning is located in the state Office of Community Education. The community education state plan includes strategies for infusing service learning into community education. The state association, universities, and adult education programs are involved in service learning initiatives. (SK)

The Tri-State Initiative is a collaboration for service learning linking the Iowa Department of Education; Minnesota Department of Children, Families, and Learning; and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Six demonstration schools are restructuring using service learning methodology. (SK)

Describes development of the U.S. service-learning movement: early roots; American Youth Foundation and National Youth Leadership Council leadership camps for youth, which combined adventure, performing arts, and social justice themes; the campaign to implement an integrated statewide youth-service model in Minnesota; creation of AmeriCorps; and…

Honors colleges and programs are as individual as the schools that host them, but they all share some features in common: small classes, usually less than 20 students; interdisciplinary classes, often team-taught; and some kind of experiential education unit, from study abroad to internships to service learning. This article focuses on the…

Outcome data are provided for a national evaluation of Learn and Serve America School and Community-Based Programs and the Florida Learn and Serve program for 1995-96. Both national and Florida state data show positive effects, including improved attendance, improved academic achievement, and better attitudes for Learn and Serve participants. (SLD)

Part 1 of this paper briefly describes the Service Learning 2000 partnership that joined Stanford University, K-12 schools, and community organizations in a collaborative effort to promote service learning throughout California. In part 2, the paper examines how the Service Learning 2000 Center has established a niche for service learning at the…

This document consists of a 1996-97 final report of Youth Works*AmeriCorps (YW*AC) and a supplemental report with information collected by the Minnesota Department of Children, Families, and Learning. The final report provides information on the third year of collaboration among the Minnesota Commission on National and Community Service,…

This paper describes the work of Youth Service California, a state-wide collaboration of public and private organizations that since 1990 has brought the voice of the local youth service field to state level policy and program development. Youth Service California's purpose is the further development of a diverse state movement to increase and…

Based on the premise that school reform efforts must consider the needs of at-risk children, this paper discusses parallel reform efforts that focus on community service. The first part discusses logical linkages between community service and "at-risk" education and describes how Arizona is attempting to formalize these linkages within…

Minnesota's Youthbuild program helps at-risk youths gain useful job skills while building safe, affordable housing in their neighborhoods and working toward their high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate. In 1999, the Minnesota Legislature appropriated 751,000 dollars per year in Youthbuild funds. The program…