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Community Service Learning (CSL) allows students to integrate and apply their content learning to real life experiences.
Community Service Learning (CSL) allows students to integrate and apply their content learning to real life experiences.
Scott Charter School strives to “provide an academically rigorous college preparatory program” for students. We believe that students who have had real-world, community-based experiences will be better prepared for selecting a college, college major and career, and integrating theory and practice when problem-solving. By connecting their classroom education with CSL, students will learn more about themselves (e.g., interest areas, strengths and weaknesses, etc.) and hone leadership skills and soft skills such as teamwork, interpersonal skills, and time management. When students engage in CSL, their learning increases because community service activities connects their classroom content to real world experiences.
Scott Charter School strives to “provide an academically rigorous college preparatory program” for students. We believe that students who have had real-world, community-based experiences will be better prepared for selecting a college, college major and career, and integrating theory and practice when problem-solving. By connecting their classroom education with CSL, students will learn more about themselves (e.g., interest areas, strengths and weaknesses, etc.) and hone leadership skills and soft skills such as teamwork, interpersonal skills, and time management. When students engage in CSL, their learning increases because community service activities connects their classroom content to real world experiences.
Additionally, civic engagement can empower students and help them understand the vital role they play in community action and improvement. Through CSL, students will meet individuals at their volunteer experiences from whom they can learn to appreciate differences in thoughts, values, beliefs, and life experiences. They also can find similarities between themselves and the people they meet. It is Scott Charter School hope that students will therefore understand how those differences can add value to society and that people can work in tandem to solve a community problem.
Additionally, civic engagement can empower students and help them understand the vital role they play in community action and improvement. Through CSL, students will meet individuals at their volunteer experiences from whom they can learn to appreciate differences in thoughts, values, beliefs, and life experiences. They also can find similarities between themselves and the people they meet. It is Scott Charter School hope that students will therefore understand how those differences can add value to society and that people can work in tandem to solve a community problem.
Frequently Asked Questions for Students
Frequently Asked Questions for Students
Who is the Community Service Learning Coordinator?
Kristen Miles, our school counselor, is the CSL coordinator. Her email is kristen.miles@academicsplus.org. Families may also contact the front office and leave a message. The front office phone number is 501.961.1744.
How many service learning hours do students need?
Students in grades 6-8 need 10 hours of service learning a year. Per the 21-22 APCSI student handbook, students are responsible for completing and documenting 5 hours per semester.
Students in grades 9-12 need 25 hours per year. Per the 21-22 APCSI student handbook, students are responsible for completing and documenting a minimum of 12.5 hours per semester.
Do 6-8 grade students have to volunteer at an approved site?
Because it can be more difficult to find organizations that accept volunteers between ages 10-13, we allow middle school students to volunteer at sites not on the ACPSI approved list. We encourage middle school students to volunteer at approved sites so that the transition to volunteering at approved sites in grades 9-12 is smoother.
If students plan to continue volunteering there once in high school, we encourage the site to submit a new site application.
Where is a list of approved volunteer sites?
It can be found at the Scott Charter School website. Hover your arrow over the Community Service Learning tab and select Student Form & Site List.
Can students earn a high school credit for community service hours?
Yes. 9-12 grade students who earn 75 hours of community service learning in high school at approved sites will earn a career focus credit. Only hours completed after September 9, 2019 will count towards the career focus credit.
For more information about the career focus credit, visit the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) Community Service Learning page.
Will 9-12 grade students receive a letter grade for the career focus credit?
No, students will not receive a letter grade. The awarded credit will not factor into their GPA.
How do students document their service hours? Where do they turn them in?
Students can find the Student Documentation form at the Scott Charter School website. Hover your arrow over the Community Service Learning tab and select Student Form & Site List. Copies are also housed in the main office.
They should complete the top section of the form and have the volunteer site supervisor sign it.
Students will turn the completed form into their 2nd period teachers only. Their 2nd period teacher will have the student enter the information from the form into an electronic form.
It is recommended that students also retain a copy of their form. This will prove beneficial when creating a resume for college, scholarships, enrichment program, and/or a part-time job.
I earned hours during the summer. Will they count towards my school-mandated yearly hours?
Yes, they will as long as they were earned at an approved volunteer site. Hours earned after the last day of school count towards the upcoming school years’ mandate hours.
What are my volunteer rights and responsibilities?
According to the ADE,
Volunteers have a right:
1. To feel safe
2. To feel valued
3. To leave
4. To information about their volunteer role
5. To negotiate their volunteer role
Volunteers have the responsibility:
1. To communicate their needs
2. To follow through on their obligations
3. To not promise what they can’t deliver
4. To honor the organizations investment in them
5. To take care of themselves
Can students receive volunteer hours for activities during school hours?
No. Students need to complete their hours outside of school hours. Anything Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:15 PM will not be accepted.
Do community service hours required for school club/organization (e.g., Beta Club, NHS, etc.) membership count towards the 75 hours?
Per ADE and the Arkansas Department of Human Services Office of Communications & Community Engagement, they do not.
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