What is Service Learning?

Service learning is a teaching strategy that connects classroom instruction with community service experiences engaging youth in their schools and communities. Students are challenged to identify, research and solve real problems, and then evaluate their learning and effectiveness. Service-learning is seen as a powerful strategy to implement essential standards, but also assists us in fulfilling our MDI Regional School System educational mission and vision.

The model of service learning that our district follows is taken from the KIDS Consortium model. KIDS Consortium is a national leader in providing technical assistance to schools implementing service-learning projects. This model has three distinct segments: 

Academic Integrity- Each project has defined learning objectives that relate to state standards and local curriculum.

Apprentice Citizenship- Students become more involved in their communitities through partnerships with community members, working together toward a common goal/need.

Student Ownership- Students share in decision-making with adults, and adults share in learning with students- acting as partners and coaches rather than experts.