IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 769 

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

support for the goals of the National Learn and Serve Challenge. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 23, 2009 

Mr. PLATTS (for himself, Ms. MATSUI, Mr. EHLERS, Mr. PRICE of North 

Carolina, and Mr. KENNEDY) 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 expressing support for 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 769 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, 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; 

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; 


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•HRES 769 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 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; 

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: 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the benefits of service-learning 

3 in— 

4 (A) enriching and enhancing academic out5 comes for youth; 

6 (B) engaging youth in positive experiences 

7 in the community; and 


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•HRES 769 IH 

1 (C) encouraging youth to make more con2 structive choices with regards to their lives; 

3 (2) encourages schools, school districts, college 

4 campuses, community-based organizations, non5 profits, and faith-based organizations to work to6 wards providing youth with more service-learning op7 portunities; and 

8 (3) expresses support for the goals of the Na9 tional Learn and Serve Challenge. 

Æ 


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