TCPS Curriculum & Instruction

Service Learning Program

Program Documents

Newly Revised Service Learning Program

Service-Learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates community service with academic study to enrich learning, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. Talbot County Public Schools and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) require students to earn a minimum of 75 hours of service learning in order to graduate. This requirement is still in effect. What is different is that your child will have opportunities to earn service–learning hours while learning and serving in the classroom. Starting with the 09/10 school year, all students in grades 3-10 will earn hours in specific classes that have approved servicelearning infused projects. Students must be in attendance and satisfactorily complete the project in order to be
awarded the hours.

In addition, students will be required to earn independent hours to complete the 75-hour requirement. Students may not begin earning independent hours until the first day of sixth grade. All sixth graders will participate in a Service-Learning Unit in Social Studies and will be awarded up to 8 hours for their successful completion of the unit. During the unit, they will learn about the Service-Learning Guidelines and what activities are permitted. Students participate in projects and activities that help them understand the needs of their communities and the importance of helping others. Students must get pre-approval from their Service-Learning Building Coordinator for any individual independent service-learning project. Please feel free to call on
them should you have questions during the school year. Once the project is completed, students are required to complete a Student Service-Learning Validation Form and turn it in to their Building Coordinator. These forms are available at the school and on the Talbot County Public Schools website (talbotschools.org). The validation form must be turned in by the last student day of that school year for the hours to be counted.

FACT SHEET: Newly Revised Service-Learning    2009-2010

It is the intent of Talbot County Public Schools to implement a Service-Learning program that will address the needs of students and fulfill the Maryland State Department of Education graduation requirements of 75 hours.  In order to meet the state requirement that all students plan, participate and reflect in service to others, Talbot County established a locally designed service learning program which provides opportunities for students to; 1) further develop intellectually and socially and 2) apply their skills and knowledge to real life situations in the community.

1.    When are students allowed to start earning service hours?

    Starting in pre-kindergarten, students will be made aware of service-learning.  Then in third grade through tenth grade, students will begin to earn hours for service-learning in specific classes that have approved service-learning infused projects.  These projects will apply toward fulfilling the 75-hour graduation requirement.
    In addition, students will be required to earn a minimum of 15 independent hours to complete the 75-hour requirement. There are multiple possibilities for students to fulfill their service-learning independent requirement starting in the sixth grade. Students may wish to be involved in group activities or students may wish to do individual projects. As a part of the sixth grade curriculum, a Service-Learning Unit will be taught which a) addresses the components necessary for quality service, b) provides students with knowledge to choose appropriate service projects, and c) introduces students to needs in the community.  Upon successful completion of this unit, students may earn up to 8 hours toward the graduation requirement.
    Students may begin to accumulate independent service-learning hours beginning the first day of their sixth-grade school year.  The building service-learning coordinator must approve all projects before service can be started.

2.    How is credit awarded for service?

    All service projects need to be pre-approved by the student’s service-learning building coordinator.  Talbot County Public Schools is not responsible for supervising community-based projects.  It is the responsibility of the students and parents to select opportunities that are appropriate and adequately supervised.  No court-mandated community service hours will be accepted toward fulfilling the service learning graduation requirement.
    Credit for service-learning is given on a year-by-year basis; i.e., first day of summer vacation through the last day of the school year.  Students need to submit hours obtained during that time period to their building coordinator by the last student day of each school year.            
    Each student will maintain a service-learning cumulative record of his/her service hours.  Upon completion of any service, the number of hours will be computed in a central location.  Students and teachers will submit validation of hours to their school Service-Learning Coordinator. The student’s report card will reflect the current number of service hours completed.

3.    In what ways may students earn hours?

    Ways in which students may earn hours include completion of integrated units in content areas, participation in student-organization service projects, completion of the service-learning course, and pre-approved community-based projects.

4.    Are there a minimum number of hours required at each grade level?

    There is no minimum. However it is suggested that students complete a minimum of 30 hours of service learning by the end of their freshman year, a minimum of 50 hours of service learning by the end of their sophomore year, and a minimum of 70 hours of service learning by the end of their junior year.   

5.    Are there special guidelines for seniors?

    Seniors, who need to complete the remaining hours, must do so by May 15th of their senior year.  Seniors who fail to submit their final approved hours by the May 15th deadline will jeopardize their participation in graduation ceremonies.
    For transfer students, at the time of registration, the service-learning building coordinator and a school counselor can help the student make an action plan for completing his/her hours.

6.    What other responsibilities do students have?

    It is the student’s responsibility to plan and complete the 75-hour service-learning requirement, preferably by the end of eleventh grade.  It is the student’s responsibility to provide transportation to and from service sites.  If a student has not completed 60 hours of service learning by the end of the junior year and 75 hours by the end of first semester senior year, the student will not be eligible to participate in the dual enrollment or work release program until this graduation requirement is completed.  A student will not be able to participate in the work experience or the internship program until all 75 hours of service learning are completed.

7.    Are students with disabilities who receive special education services required to participate in service learning?

    All students with disabilities who receive special education services will participate in earning service-learning hours.  Most students with disabilities, who are working toward a high school diploma, will complete their hours as a part of their regular education requirements.  Students who are on a certificate program will participate in earning hours based on their IEPs, which will reflect the degree of their participation and any necessary modifications.

2011-2012 Talbot County Public Schools Service-Learning Team:

Susan Angel, TCPS Coordinator, Talbot County Education Center, 410- 822-0330
Terry Callahan, Team Leader, Easton High School, 410- 822-4180
Linda Brown, Building Coordinator, Easton High School, 410-822-4180
Katie Manley, Building Coordinator, Easton Middle School, 410-822-2910
Robin Voshell, Support Coordinator for Easton Middle School 410- 822-2910
Annie Livingstone, Building Coordinator, St. Michaels Middle/High School, 410-745-2852
Chris Renaud, Building Coordinator, St. Michaels Elementary School, 410-745-2882
Angie Asmussen, Building Coordinator, Tilghman Elementary School, 410-886-2391
Jeff Bell, Building Coordinator, Moton Elementary School, 410-822-0686
Debbie Dyott, Building Coordinator, White Marsh Elementary School, 410-476-3144
Jessica Boyd Kastel, Building Coordinator, Chapel District Elementary School, 410-822-2391