H. Res. 1463 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

September 22, 2008. 

Whereas service-learning is a teaching method that enhances 

academic learning by integrating classroom content with 

relevant activities aimed at addressing identified community or school needs; 

Whereas service-learning has been used both in school and 

community-based settings as a teaching strategy to enhance learning by building on youth experiences, granting 

youth a voice in learning, and making instructional goals 

and objectives more relevant to youth; 

Whereas service-learning has been identified as an effective 

tool in addressing the Nation’s dropout epidemic by making education more hands-on and relevant, especially to 

disadvantaged youth; 

Whereas service-learning provides great benefits to disadvantaged and at-risk youth by building self-confidence, which 

often translates into overall academic and personal success; 

Whereas service-learning provides not only meaningful experiences, but a greater quantity and quality of interactions 

between youth and potential mentors in the community; 
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•HRES 1463 EH 

Whereas service-learning simultaneously empowers youth as 

both engaged learners and actively engaged citizens and 

contributors to the community; 

Whereas youth engaged in service-learning provide critical 

service to the community by addressing a variety of needs 

in American towns, cities, and States, including needs 

such as tutoring for young children, elderly care, community nutrition, disaster relief, environmental stewardship, 

financial education, public safety, and a host of other 

needs; 

Whereas far reaching and diverse research shows that service-learning enhances the academic, career, cognitive, and 

civic development of kindergarten through 12th-grade 

students, and of higher education students; 

Whereas service-learning strengthens and increases the number of partnerships among institutions of higher education, local schools, and communities, which strengthen 

communities and improve academic learning; 

Whereas service-learning programs unleash a multitude of 

skilled and enthusiastic college students to serve in the 

communities surrounding their colleges; 

Whereas service-learning programs engage students in community-based research and are strengthening the ability 

of America’s nonprofit organizations to meet community 

needs; 

Whereas Learn and Serve America, the only federally funded 

program dedicated to service-learning, annually engages 

over 1,500,000 youth in service-learning; 

Whereas Learn and Serve America engages these youth by 

leveraging public-private investment that leads to a highly cost-effective $25 per participant amount; 
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•HRES 1463 EH 

Whereas the National Learn and Serve Challenge is an annual event that takes place from October 6 through October 12 that spotlights the value of service-learning to 

youth as well as to schools, college campuses, and communities; and 

Whereas the National Learn and Serve Challenge encourages 

others to launch service-learning activities, and increases 

the recognition of Learn and Serve America: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) recognizes the benefits of service-learning in enriching and enhancing academic outcomes for youth, engaging youth in positive experiences in the community, 

and making more constructive choices regarding their 

lives; 

(2) encourages schools, school districts, college campuses, community-based organizations, non-profits, and 

faith-based organizations to work towards providing 

youth with more service-learning opportunities; and 

(3) expresses support for the goals of the National 

Learn and Serve Challenge. 

Attest: 

Clerk.