The objective of this systematic review is to summarize the available evidence on the effects of prevention and intervention programs aimed at primary and secondary students for increasing school completion or reducing school dropout. Program effects on the closely related outcomes of school attendance (absences, truancy) will also be examined.…

Background: To achieve high participation rates and a representative sample, active parent consent procedures require a significant investment of study resources. The purpose of this article is to describe processes and outcomes of utilizing active parent consent procedures with sixth-grade students from urban, ethnically diverse, economically…

Despite evidence that service-learning projects can have positive effects on students' learning and civic engagement, such projects are not yet widely utilized in political science. This seems to be driven, in part, by the concern that service-learning projects may politicize students. In my Urban Politics and Policy class, I implemented a…

A triangulation mixed-methods design was used to measure differences in service-learning outcomes for 32 students enrolled in criminal justice courses during the academic years 2003 (n = 16) and 2005 (n = 16). Results show that service-learners increase their political awareness and course value but experience a decrease in problem-solving skills…

The "Core Indicators of Effectiveness Report" delineates the performance of Wyoming's community colleges as measured by the 14 indicators set forth by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and adopted by the seven Wyoming community colleges and the Wyoming Community College Commission in 2002. These indicators, while…

Asserts that when students participate in service-learning projects in which they ownership, they become more engaged in the classroom and also build an appreciation for civic values. This article also asserts that when service-learning programs give students little ownership in the process it produces negative effects on the student's civic…

Summarizes findings from a study in which students followed a variety of pathways to civic engagement. The findings from the study suggest that while service-learning is not necessarily more effective than other methods in influencing student attitudes about civic life, it does influence the way students think citizens should act in a democracy.…

The paper examines civic mission of higher education analyzing legal prerequisites for establishing civic engagement at Croatian universities, as well as students' experiences and attitudes on important aspects of university activities. The analysis of legal acts indicates insufficient usage of given legislation. Legal regulations, which recommend…

The demonstrated willingness of institutions of higher education to contribute to sustainable development is on the rise. Colleges and universities are attempting to integrate principles of sustainability into their operational practices, curriculum, and research priorities. Integrating sustainability into a university requires processes by which…

In this study, the authors examined participation rates in, and attitudes toward, service in community settings in a sample of 936 academically talented adolescents. Results indicated that about 50% of the participants participated in both classroom-sponsored and organization-sponsored service activities, with female students reporting higher…

This pack aims to provide materials to help all those involved in youth volunteering and post-16 citizenship education to ensure that there are some citizenship learning outcomes from these valuable experiences. The pack has been produced by the Post-16 Citizenship Support Programme to help the integration of citizenship education into post-16…

This introduction provides a summary of the various articles presented in this issue that pertain to current issues and lessons learned from service learning practices. This article also addresses many of the criticisms of service learning. This article also suggests further areas of research that need to be addressed. (SWM)

This study investigated the benefits of incorporating the pedagogy of service-learning in two first-year seminar courses by examining: (1) the unique ways service can be incorporated in freshman classes; (2) the extent of interpersonal connections made as a result of the service; and (3) the impact of service on future community service…

Research demonstrates the following: (1) attitudes toward service are influenced by schools, families, and communities; (2) exemplary programs engage youth in responsible tasks; (3) service learning is holistic; and (4) learning results from reflection on service experiences. (SK)

Volunteer rates vary tremendously across states and age groups. In recent years, young people have exhibited rising volunteering rates, particularly high school students and college freshmen, but 2006 witnessed a drop in the volunteering rate among. When comparing the volunteer rates for different age groups from 2002 to 2006, 16-18 year olds…