Service Learning Requirements/ Student Volunteer Service Program
Students are REQUIRED to complete 40 services hours to graduate.
The purpose of the Service Learning Graduation Requirement and the Student Volunteer Service Program is to acquaint high school students with the need to become a participant of change by providing service to both their school and community.
Service Learning is defined as: An educational method which allows students to learn skills of civil participation and develops an ethic of service and civic responsibility through active participation in service that is conducted in and meets the needs of the community.
Students can provide service in the community on a voluntary basis to public, nonprofit agencies, civic, charitable and governmental organizations and school campus.
Students should see the Student Volunteer Service Program Coordinator at their school for the appropriate service hour forms. Student should not just go to a site and work for hours. The service site or organization must be approved and specific paperwork must be submitted. Not all projects undertaken by school clubs and organizations count for service hours and could be rejected.
It is recommended that students speak with the appropriate person at their individual school for approval of community sites/organization and service hour forms BEFORE completing the hours.
Student hours submitted that have not been previously approved could be denied. If a student’s volunteer hours have been denied by the school based Student Volunteer Service Coordinator then the student may appeal that decision to the Department of Student Activities and Athletics.
The appeal must be in writing and a copy of the Log Sheet referencing the hours in question must be attached. The letter must contain a telephone number and address at which the party initiating the appeal can be reached.
Service Learning and Volunteer Service Program is divided into three tiers:
Tier I 40 hours or more
Service Learning Hours are required for graduation. Students may start earning hours as soon as they are promoted to 9th grade
Students must complete the full 40 hours.
Students must submit a written reflection of the experience.
Service hours must be documented on the Service Learning Record -Graduation Requirement Tier 1 Log Sheet.
Log sheets must be returned to the Service Learning Coordinator.
Students must keep a copy of the service hours for their own records.
Tier II 75 hours or more
Service Learning and Volunteer Service Hours required to qualify for the Florida Academic Scholars Program (one of the Bright Futures Scholarships).
These hours are a combination of the Service Learning Requirement to graduate and the Volunteer Service Program.
Hours earned as a part of Student Volunteer Service Program must be documented on the Volunteer Service Record (Tier II and III) Log sheet and comply with the rules of that program.
The Florida Academic Scholars Program requirements listed on the reverse side of the Tier II and III Log Sheet must be completed.
The student must give copies of the log sheets required to verify service hours for the Florida Academic Scholars Program Scholarship to his/her guidance counselor.
Tier III 250 hours or more
Volunteer Service Hours required to earn a silver cord at graduation.
See guidelines for Tiers II.
Remember to keep copies of log sheets.
Remember to turn in Service Record regularly.
For more information, go to .
For a list of approved community sites/organization view the .
For more information visit .
