Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today introduced legislation that will help students apply the knowledge and skills gained in the classroom to real world experiences by incorporating volunteerism and civic engagement in curriculum. The Engaging Students Through Service-Learning Act aims to connect the classroom to the community by establishing a national center to expand opportunities for students to incorporate skills that are critical to success in the 21st century economy, such as critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration, with activities outside the classroom. The bill would also help teachers to provide students with this hands-on education.
"Iowans have a strong sense of community and have seen firsthand the difference dedicated volunteers can make. The earlier we can start incorporating volunteerism and civic engagement in school settings, the more likely it is that students will continue to participate in their communities in meaningful ways throughout their adult lives," said Congressman Loebsack. "When students engage in this type of hands-on learning, it can boost their academic engagement and performance, which will help them secure good jobs and contribute to Iowa's economy in the future."
"We must make our schools better. We simply can't keep organizing our classrooms and using the same teaching approaches that have been used for decades if we want to improve outcomes that result in students who are truly college and career ready and internationally competitive," said Teri Dary, Co-Chair National Coalition for Academic Service-Learning.
Specifically, the Engaging Students Through Service-Learning Act will:
· Ensure states have the resources and support needed to establish effective service-learning programs;
· Strengthen a federal-state partnership to improve quality through creation of the National Center for K-12 Service Learning and ensure adequate oversight through effective evaluations;
· Encourage states to grow professional development models for service-learning and provide resources to local education agencies and communities to apply service-learning in different content areas and in schools and communities with high percentages of struggling youth.
Examples of effective service-learning programs in Iowa include :
- In 2012, the Reach Out Iowa program engaged over 4,000 youth between the ages of 5 and 17 in service-learning programs and activities. The youth provided more than $100,000 in volunteer hours to communities across the state, specifically targeting Sioux City, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Des Moines, Marshalltown, Winterset, and Adair County.
- 13,000 Iowans benefitted from the service learning projects.
- Additionally, 50 partner organizations received training on effective service learning principles and practices. Of these partners, more than 60% of the organizations now engage youth in leadership positions.
