[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 80 (Thursday, May 15, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S4285]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REID (for Mrs. Clinton):
  S. 3028. A bill to amend the National and Community Service Act of 
1990 to promote community service among United States youth by 
connecting secondary school seniors to community service opportunities; 
to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, in honor of AmeriCorps Week, I am 
pleased to introduce a bill that will help keep our Nation's high 
school seniors engaged in learning and community service. My 
legislation will connect high school seniors to service opportunities 
within their schools or communities while earning money for college.
  The senior year of high school is a crucial transition time for 
youth. Despite this fact, many twelfth grade students opt to take less 
challenging courses, or no classes at all, during their final year of 
high school, a phenomenon commonly termed ``senioritis.'' I strongly 
believe we should use this opportunity to provide a service-oriented 
education for young people across the country. That is why I am 
sponsoring the Senior Year Community Service Act.
  This legislation will create a pilot program to enable six local 
educational agencies to connect high school seniors with service 
opportunities within their communities or schools. The bill calls on 
the Corporation of National and Community Service to assist local 
educational agencies with the implementation of this pilot program. 
Using grant funds, the local educational agency will establish a 
partnership with a community based organization to implement this pilot 
program, provide a service coordinator to assist participating high 
schools, and provide information to students about this program as 
early as their junior year.
  The Senior Year Community Service Act also requires the Department of 
Education to study the effects of this program on participating 
seniors. The evaluation will measure student academic achievement on 
State academic assessments, graduation rates and student rates of 
college enrollment, persistence and graduation. If the evaluation 
proves that this program is successful in increasing student 
achievement, the legislation calls upon the Department of Education to 
make this program a universal experience for high school seniors.
  Research has shown that participation in community service activities 
can lead to increased student achievement. In one study, students 
involved in community service and service-learning reported higher 
grades and better school attendance. In another study, civically-
engaged high school students tended to make greater academic progress 
and were more likely to graduate from college.
  The benefits of community service participation can reach beyond the 
school walls. The National Service-Learning Clearinghouse notes that in 
addition to increased academic achievement, service learning 
contributes to students' increased self-efficacy, enhanced problem-
solving skills, and enhanced civic engagement.
  We have seen colleges and universities take their own approaches to 
solving the problem of ``senioritis.'' Earlier this year, the New York 
Times reported that a handful of universities are taking action against 
slacking high school seniors--ranging from requiring students to meet 
monthly with the dean of admissions once enrolled, to rescinding 
admission status completely. Programs that keep seniors engaged in 
school can prevent college-bound students from squandering their 
precious opportunities.
  The Senior Year Community Service Act will prevent many high school 
students from wasting their senior year and makes community service a 
common expectation for high school seniors. I hope that my Senate 
colleagues will join me in supporting this bill that will help our 
youth stay on track for a bright and successful future.

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