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Policy committee favors service-learning over counting volunteer hours toward graduation
Summary
Committee members discussed whether to count student volunteer hours for graduation credit and generally favored integrating service-learning into curriculum rather than simply counting volunteer hours, noting community service is a district graduation requirement but not a Connecticut state requirement.
Committee members debated whether to allow younger volunteers (around age 12) to have hours counted toward graduation or to preserve a service-learning approach tied to curriculum. One member proposed that a group of seventh- and eighth-grade volunteers who work at Camp Nerden should be able to count their hours. Another member opposed counting unstructured volunteer hours, saying it undercuts the goals of service learning.
"I am 100% opposed to counting hours for community service. I think that it doesn't do what we intend community service to do," one member said, arguing for structured service-learning projects that connect to curriculum and develop sustained engagement. Members described models where students design, plan and implement multi-year community projects linked to class requirements and suggested a developmentally appropriate approach for middle-school students.
The committee confirmed community service is part of the district's graduation requirements but not mandated by the state. The group asked staff to explore approaches in the strategic plan to better integrate meaningful service learning across grade levels rather than simply tallying volunteer hours.
