IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1463 

Recognizing the benefits of service-learning as a teaching strategy to effectively engage youth in the community and classroom, and supporting 

the goals of the National Learn and Serve Challenge. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 18, 2008 

Mr. PLATTS (for himself and Ms. MATSUI) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the benefits of service-learning as a teaching 

strategy to effectively engage youth in the community 

and classroom, and supporting the goals of the National 

Learn and Serve Challenge. 

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; 


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•HRES 1463 IH 

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 is proven to provide the greatest 

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; 

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; 


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•HRES 1463 IH 

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 1,500,000,000 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; 

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 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the benefits of service-learning in 

3 enriching and enhancing academic outcomes for 

4 youth, engaging youth in positive experiences in the 

5 community, and making more constructive choices 

6 regarding their lives; 


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•HRES 1463 IH 

1 (2) encourages schools, school districts, college 

2 campuses, community-based organizations, non-prof3 its, and faith-based organizations to work towards 

4 providing youth with more service-learning opportu5 nities; and 

6 (3) expresses support for the goals of the Na7 tional Learn and Serve Challenge. 

Æ 


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