H. Res. 769 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

September 30, 2009. 

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, and has been 

especially effective in addressing the epidemic with respect 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; 
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Whereas service-learning simultaneously empowers youth as 

actively engaged learners, 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 towns, cities, and States, including needs such as tutoring 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 base shows that 

service-learning enhances the academic, career, cognitive, 

and civic development of kindergarten through 12thgrade 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 strengthens 

communities and improves 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 actively addressing and solving pressing community issues 

and are strengthening the ability of nonprofit organizations to meet community needs; 

Whereas Learn and Serve America, a program established 

under subtitle B of title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12521 et seq.), is 

the only federally funded program dedicated to servicelearning and engages over 1,100,000 youth in servicelearning annually; 
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Whereas Learn and Serve America is a highly cost-effective 

program, averaging approximately $25 per participant 

and leveraging $1 for every Federal dollar invested; and 

Whereas the National Learn and Serve Challenge is an annual event that is taking place this year from October 5 

through October 11, 2009, that spotlights the value of 

service-learning to young people as well as schools, college campuses, and communities, encourages others to 

launch service-learning activities, and increases recognition of Learn and Serve America: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

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

(A) enriching and enhancing academic outcomes for youth; 

(B) engaging youth in positive experiences in 

the community; and 

(C) encouraging youth to make more constructive choices with regards to their lives; 

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

faith-based organizations to work towards providing 

youth with more service-learning opportunities; and 
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(3) expresses support for the goals of the National 

Learn and Serve Challenge. 

Attest: 

Clerk.