[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 46 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 46

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Whereas service-learning is a teaching method that enhances academic learning by 
        integrating classroom content with relevant activities aimed at 
        addressing identified needs in a community or school;
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 addresses the dropout epidemic in the United States by 
        making education more ``hands-on'' and relevant, and has been especially 
        effective in addressing the dropout 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 improves 
        the quantity and quality of interactions between youth and potential 
        mentors in the community;
Whereas service-learning 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, care of the elderly, 
        community nutrition, disaster relief, environmental stewardship, 
        financial education, and public safety;
Whereas far-reaching and diverse research shows that service-learning enhances 
        the academic, career, cognitive, and civic development of students in 
        kindergarten through 12th grade, and students at institutions of higher 
        education;
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 allow 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 strengthen 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 more than 1,100,000 youth in service-learning each 
        year;
Whereas Learn and Serve America is a highly cost-effective program, with an 
        average cost of approximately $25 per participant and leverage of $1 for 
        every Federal dollar invested;
Whereas the National Learn and Serve Challenge is an annual event that, in 2009, 
        will take place October 5 through October 11; and
Whereas the National Learn and Serve Challenge spotlights the value of service-
        learning to young people, 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 by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) recognizes the benefits of service-learning, which 
        include--
                    (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, nonprofit organizations, and 
        faith-based organizations to provide youth with more service-
        learning opportunities; and
            (3) expresses support for the goals of the National Learn 
        and Serve Challenge.

            Passed the Senate October 14, 2009.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
111th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                            S. CON. RES. 46

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Recognizing the benefits of service-learning and expressing support for 
          the goals of the National Learn and Serve Challenge.