Overall, the written input from the comment cards echoed the recommendations voiced during the Forum. While federal dollars are a small percentage of education budgets, those dollars often drive educational reform. Encourage the U.S. Department of Education to take a more substantial role in supporting service-learning. Smaller states are given minimal monies based on population and don't have enough funds to support a statewide program. The voice of rural America needs and deserves to be heard.
Smaller communities are without resources.
Needs in rural America differ from those of cities and suburban areas. Inform legislators in order to increase dollars. Encourage states to address local school boards issues around service-learning Increase funding for dissemination and training to all sectors. Develop a list of resource suggestions to leverage and create more money for the service-learning field, particularly funds which will reach the local level. Recommend policies that link schools to community-based organizations and higher education institutions, and the funding to support these policies.