Service Learning Program Improvement and Innovation Plan
Relevant details and data for the Service Learning Program.
Program Overview
- Involves students in their community.
- Instills a sense of civic responsibility.
- Helps students to assess the impact on the community.
Service Learning is a Work-Based Learning experience. Students have the opportunity to explore career pathways. This develops students’ strengths and interests. This is important to Academic and Career Planning.
Service Learning helps students develop Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) skills. It also develops FCPS Portrait of a Graduate skills.
Scope of Impact
FCPS encourages all students to take part in service learning. This learning is supported by teachers and staff. Resources are available to all K-12 students in FCPS; approximately 180,109 students.
At the elementary level, service learning is tracked by the school and support is offered centrally for schools that request assistance with documenting service hours. Middle and high school service hours are tracked in x2VOL.
Goals, Actions, and Measures
Increasing the number of graduating seniors earning the Seal for Excellence in Science and the Environment in high schools by 10% for the 2023-24 school year.
Actions
- Review data in x2VOL and identify high schools with less service data in their science goal category.
- Communicate with and offer training in connection with High School Science departments on using x2VOL.
- Continue monitoring quarterly progress with identified schools and continue to offer support as the school year progresses.
- Create targeted Learning Seminar lessons for grades 9-12.
- Encourage and support school participation in related science seal requirements
- Collaborate with Science and Get2Green FCPS offices.
Measures
- Hourly Service Learning data
- Number of seals earned
Highlight service work through external communications to the FCPS community at least twice per year.
Actions
- Create a method of gathering stakeholder stories from schools.
- Regularly communicate the need for stories to schools.
- Create a media plan with the Office of Communications around specific dates and events.
- Collaborate with community partners on student holidays (9/11 Weekend of Service, MLK Jr. Weekend of Service, Global Youth Service Day, etc.) to create service learning opportunities.
- Continue supporting service learning opportunities offered through our community partners (Fairfax County Youth Leadership Program, Community Services Board Youth Council, FCPS Student Equity Ambassador Leaders (SEALs), etc.)
Measures
- Number of story ideas provided to FCPS communications
- Number of mentions in FCPS community facing conversations
