Embedded Files
Established in 1992, The District of Columbia’s Community Service Requirement aims to equip students with the necessary skills and abilities for career and educational advancement as well as motivate students to take an active role as leaders in their communities. DC Municipal Regulations require at least 100 hours of volunteer community service in order for students to graduate.
The 100-hour requirement of community service in DCPS may be completed at 501(c)(3) organizations, schools, federal or local agencies, or other organizations if it is non-paying voluntary service for the benefit of the community. Students must also properly document their community service hours by submitting a signed, complete community service form to earn community service hours that count towards the graduation requirement.
Contact your School Counselor, School-based Community Service Point of Contact, or DCPS.Counseling@k12.dc.gov for additional information regarding earning community service hours.
Updated Community Service Regulations for Class of 2023 and Beyond
Updated Community Service Regulations for Class of 2023 and Beyond
OSSE has released official community service high school graduation requirements for DCPS, which gradually reintroduces community service hours over the next 4 years. These regulations take effect in the 2022-23 school year.
Per the guidance, students are required to complete the following requirements for each graduation year:
2022-23: 12 hours (Note: Any student who transfers into DCPS from a non-DCPS or Public Charter School in the middle of the year shall have the requirement waived.)
2023-24: 50 hours
2024-25: 75 hours
2025-26 and after: 100 hours
Additionally, beginning in school year 2022-23, hours earned before a student completes 8th grade cannot be counted toward the graduation requirement.
We are working to update our internal communications and guidance to align with the new regulations and will share those when complete.
All community service hours must comply with DCPS community service guidelines and be approved by the school counselor.
Uploading/Submitting Community Service Hours
How to Enter Community Service Hours for Students.pdfAll Community Service forms MUST BE uploaded via ASPEN.
If you need assistance uploading or need a computer please see your assigned School Counselor.
Please follow the attached instructions to upload your community service hours. Additionally, make sure you are logging back into ASPEN to check the status of your completed tasks for community service as not all hours are approved simply because they are uploaded.
If you are missing any of the following on your uploaded community service forms, they will be denied: (See Below on how to fully complete a form)
Signatures from Supervisor and Student
Tax ID# of participating organization
Dates service was completed
Description of service completed
Time service was completed
Total Hours completed
Fillable Community Service Hours Form.pdfFillable Community Service Form
The Following Sections must be completed for approval:
Student Information
Volunteer Organization Information (TAX ID is required)
Date/ Brief Description/ Time in Time Out/ Total Hours
Supervisor/Title/Signature form Supervisor
DO NOT COMPLETE Pre Approved Section
Student Reflection (MUST BE a paragraph)
*Physical Forms can be found in the CTO Suite*
Community Service FAQ and Guide for All.pdfStudent/Family Guide to Community Service
Community Service FAQs for Students and Families_English .pdfFAQ's
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