Florida Senate - 2009                                     SB 450
       
       
       
       By Senator Fasano
       
       
       
       
       11-00342-09                                            2009450__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to service-learning programs; creating
    3         s. 1003.497, F.S.; requiring that the Department of
    4         Education encourage school districts to initiate,
    5         adopt, expand, and institutionalize service-learning
    6         programs, activities, and policies in kindergarten
    7         through grade 12; defining the term “service
    8         learning”; requiring that the department assist a
    9         school district that elects to implement service
   10         learning activities; requiring that the department
   11         develop and adopt elective service-learning courses;
   12         providing that course-based, service-learning
   13         activities may be counted toward high school
   14         graduation or academic award requirements; encouraging
   15         school districts to include service learning in
   16         courses or activities required for high school
   17         graduation or receipt of academic awards; providing an
   18         effective date.
   19         
   20  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   21         
   22         Section 1. Section 1003.497, Florida Statutes, is created
   23  to read:
   24         1003.497 Service learning.—
   25         (1) The Department of Education shall encourage each school
   26  district to initiate, adopt, expand, and institutionalize
   27  service-learning programs, activities, and policies in
   28  kindergarten through grade 12. The term “service learning” means
   29  a student-centered, research-based teaching and learning
   30  strategy that engages students in meaningful service activities
   31  in their schools or communities. Service-learning activities are
   32  directly tied to academic curricula and standards, and to
   33  course, district, or state assessments. Service-learning
   34  activities foster academic achievement, character development,
   35  civic engagement, and career exploration and enable students to
   36  apply curriculum content, skills, and behaviors taught in the
   37  classroom.
   38         (2) Upon the request of a school district that elects to
   39  implement service-learning programs, activities, or policies,
   40  the department shall provide assistance in locating, leveraging,
   41  and using available or alternative financial resources that
   42  assist the school district or teachers desiring to receive
   43  training and other resources to develop and administer service
   44  learning programs or activities. Each school district is
   45  encouraged to include kindergarten through grade 12 service
   46  learning programs and activities in proposals submitted to the
   47  department under federal entitlement grants and competitive
   48  state and federal grants administered through the department.
   49         (3)(a) The department shall develop and adopt elective
   50  service-learning courses for inclusion in middle and high school
   51  course code directories, which will allow additional
   52  opportunities for students to engage in service learning. Each
   53  school district is encouraged to provide support for the use of
   54  service learning at any grade level as an instructional strategy
   55  to address appropriate areas of state education standards for
   56  student knowledge and performance.
   57         (b) The hours that a high school student devotes to course
   58  based, service-learning activities may be counted toward meeting
   59  community service requirements for high school graduation and
   60  community service requirements for participation in the Florida
   61  Bright Futures Scholarship Program. Each school district is
   62  encouraged to include service learning as part of any course or
   63  activity required for high school graduation and to include and
   64  accept service-learning activities and hours in requirements for
   65  academic awards, especially awards that currently include
   66  community service as a factor or criterion in the selection
   67  process.
   68         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.