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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1463 Introduced in House (IH)]

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;
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;
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
    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.
                                 <all>
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