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

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

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 7, 2009

  Mrs. Murray (for herself, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Dodd, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. 
  Feingold, Ms. Collins, Mr. Bayh, and Mrs. Gillibrand) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the benefits of service-learning 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 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.
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