Community Service Learning is a new graduation requirement created by the LEARNS Act. Beginning with the graduating class of 2027, students are required to complete 75 community service hours to earn a diploma (Act 237 of 2023, pages 38-39). The law includes that students will earn 15 hours of community service in 9th grade, and 20 hours of community service in each of the years for grades 10, 11, and 12 to equal 75 hours of service required for graduation.

Community Service Learning includes:

• Preparation - an awareness of community needs and ways in which the student can address those needs through community service with a learning component

• Action - the criteria by which student learning will be evaluated so that earning of the credit can be verified

• Reflection - the conscious examination of what was learned or experienced during the CSL activity

1. Partner with a school or community organization that provides a service benefiting the community members near you. Find opportunities on the GHS GivePulse page and log your hours through the service for the fastest and simplest process.
   

2. It is the student's responsibility to keep up with and track their individual hours. Posting your hours on GivePulse is the best way to track your progress, but the CSL Student Record form can still be used for tracking until further notice.
   

3. Once you have reached the required amount of service credits for the current school year, you will physically turn in any certificate or form documenting your service hours to Academic Success Coach, Fernanda Torres, as well as, copy that information into the the GHS GivePulse online platform. It is mandatory that both forms (physical paper copy & online) of documentation be completed.

The terms “service-learning” and “community service” are quite different.

Service-learning combines classroom learning goals and community service in a way that enhances or benefits both the student and the community. Every activity reinforces the curriculum and back in the classroom, students have the chance to reflect on what they've learned. To learn more about what service learning is view this video.

With community service, while one can learn volunteering or doing community service, in these cases the learning is tangential and doesn't directly link to the classroom. Volunteering or community service also focuses primarily – sometimes only – on the recipient of the service.

• Direct Service - serving directly with a service population

  • tutoring

  • serving meals

  • working with patients

  • participating in events

• Indirect Service - serving behind the scenes to better a community problem

  • organizing a fundraising event

  • stocking a food pantry

  • collecting donations

• Advocacy - bringing awareness to a cause or problem

  • speaking

  • performing

  • lobbying

While many activities can benefit members of the community, Community Service is specifically for the benefit of the whole community. Here are some examples of what will not be considered fulfilment of CSL hours:

• mowing grandma's lawn

• painting your neighbors fence

• helping a community member move homes

• taking out the trash for a business

• ect

Yes, but please check with GHS staff before submitting those hours. All options should be closely monitored and vetted with the student's adult guardian or parent.

Most places a student might serve will involve an agency with a “non-profit” or 501c3 status but that is not always the case. A “for-profit” nursing home could be a good place to volunteer. City events like Gravette Day or a 5K run are good examples of events requiring many volunteers.

• Service should only be completed at a parent’s discretion

• Parents are responsible for giving permission, vetting all situations, and going through precautionary safety protocols

• Service should never be in a private home

• Service should never be in a situation where students are alone with only one other person

  
  

If a student earns more than the required number of hours in a year, the hours “roll over” and count toward the next year.

Yes. Students may complete their hours during school hours. Some classroom projects, activities, field studies, and events will qualify for community service hours. Example: Family and Consumer Science students may make stuffed animals that they donate to state troopers to use to console small children involved in accidents or traumatic events.

Yes. A student can report the same activities to different groups requiring service logs. Example: A student can volunteer at Gravette Day and report those hours to National Honor Society, FFA, and this community service graduation requirement.

Any district employee including bus drivers, paraprofessionals, teachers, principals, etc. who are present where you are serving can be the person who authenticates or certifies your service.

Please do not call or email our K-8 schools or teachers to ask about opportunities. This can cause an excessive call volume for them. If they have an event where they need help they will reach out to GHS or contact related club sponsors directly. Go to the school website> Schools> Menu> Staff to email the individual.