[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 769 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 769

Recognizing the benefits of service-learning as a teaching strategy to 
effectively engage youth in the community and classroom, and expressing 
    support for the goals of the National Learn and Serve Challenge.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 23, 2009

  Mr. Platts (for himself, Ms. Matsui, Mr. Ehlers, Mr. Price of North 
 Carolina, and Mr. Kennedy) submitted the following resolution; which 
          was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the benefits of service-learning as a teaching strategy to 
effectively engage youth in the community and classroom, and expressing 
    support for the goals of the National Learn and Serve Challenge.

Whereas service-learning is a teaching method that enhances academic learning by 
        integrating classroom content with relevant activities aimed at 
        addressing identified community or school needs;
Whereas service-learning has been used both in school and community-based 
        settings as a teaching strategy to enhance learning by building on youth 
        experiences, granting youth a voice in learning, and making 
        instructional goals and objectives more relevant to youth;
Whereas service-learning has been identified as an effective tool in addressing 
        the Nation's dropout epidemic by making education more hands-on and 
        relevant, and has been especially effective in addressing the epidemic 
        with respect to disadvantaged youth;
Whereas service-learning is proven to provide the greatest benefits to 
        disadvantaged and at-risk youth by building self-confidence, which often 
        translates into overall academic and personal success;
Whereas service-learning provides not only meaningful experiences, but a greater 
        quantity and quality of interactions between youth and potential mentors 
        in the community;
Whereas service-learning simultaneously empowers youth as actively engaged 
        learners, citizens, and contributors to the community;
Whereas youth engaged in service-learning provide critical service to the 
        community by addressing a variety of needs in towns, cities, and States, 
        including needs such as tutoring young children, elderly care, community 
        nutrition, disaster relief, environmental stewardship, financial 
        education, public safety, and a host of other needs;
Whereas far reaching and diverse research base shows that service-learning 
        enhances the academic, career, cognitive, and civic development of 
        kindergarten through 12th-grade students, and of higher education 
        students;
Whereas service-learning strengthens and increases the number of partnerships 
        among institutions of higher education, local schools, and communities, 
        which strengthens communities and improves academic learning;
Whereas service-learning programs unleash a multitude of skilled and 
        enthusiastic college students to serve in the communities surrounding 
        their colleges;
Whereas service-learning programs engage students in actively addressing and 
        solving pressing community issues and are strengthening the ability of 
        nonprofit organizations to meet community needs;
Whereas Learn and Serve America, a program established under subtitle B of title 
        I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12521 et 
        seq.), is the only federally funded program dedicated to service-
        learning and engages over 1,100,000 youth in service-learning annually;
Whereas Learn and Serve America is a highly cost-effective program, averaging 
        approximately $25 per participant and leveraging $1 for every Federal 
        dollar invested; and
Whereas the National Learn and Serve Challenge is an annual event that is taking 
        place this year from October 5 through October 11, 2009, that spotlights 
        the value of service-learning to young people as well as schools, 
        college campuses, and communities, encourages others to launch service-
        learning activities, and increases recognition of Learn and Serve 
        America: Now, therefore, be it:
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the benefits of service-learning in--
                    (A) enriching and enhancing academic outcomes for 
                youth;
                    (B) engaging youth in positive experiences in the 
                community; and
                    (C) encouraging youth to make more constructive 
                choices with regards to their lives;
            (2) encourages schools, school districts, college campuses, 
        community-based organizations, nonprofits, and faith-based 
        organizations to work towards providing youth with more 
        service-learning opportunities; and
            (3) expresses support for the goals of the National Learn 
        and Serve Challenge.
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