Students may have more opportunities to participate in service-learning activities

Service-learning experiences can help students take what they’re taught in the classroom and use it to address community needs.

Designed to more fully integrate service-learning into the state’s education system, HF2198, as amended, would establish a service-learning specialist position at the Department of Education and provide funding for grants to eligible partners.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mike Freiberg (DFL-Golden Valley), was approved by the House Education Policy Committee Wednesday, and now heads to the House Education Finance Division. The companion, SF2455, awaits action by the Senate E-12 Finance and Policy Committee. Sen. Chuck Wiger (DFL-Maplewood) is the sponsor.

The proposal was several years in the making, and created based on student and a variety of stakeholder feedback, according to Freiberg.

Rep. Mike Freiberg

“Let’s acknowledge and support the power and potential of our children and youth and provide them with opportunities they deserve and need in order to maximize their success,” he said.

Districts are currently able to use service-learning experiences, but Freiberg indicated that many face barriers in developing the partnerships. Grant funds and creation of the statewide service-learning specialist position would help bolster these opportunities.

Sage Hartman, an eighth-grade student and Plymouth resident, supports the proposal. She shared her service-learning experience and how the hands-on experience with organic recycling helped her learn science concepts. 

“Sadly, this was after school and I noticed people I know wanted to be involved in this, but they couldn’t due to the expense and transportation problems,” she said. 

If enacted, she said, “[It] would not only help students my age know the daily curriculum, it would help us learn to make the world a better place.”

Other components of the proposal would require the department to annually — for five years — award up to 32 grants of up to $50,000. Grant recipients would need to provide a 50% match in funds or in-kind contributions unless waived by the department. Eligible partnerships would need to be comprised of a district or charter, at least two students, two or more specified school employees, and a public, nonprofit or private organization.

These partnerships do more than help educate students, they can help students build relationships and social capital, according to Paula Beugen, a volunteerism expert.

“Those who are getting ready for post-secondary education and or employment are likely to have networks, role models and recommendations to help them achieve their goals,” she said.

Looking for more details, Rep. Dave Baker (R-Wilmar) asked if the service-learning would be done during or after the school day, and how success would be measured.

The school districts would be able to determine the timing of the service learning, Freiberg said. He also noted that there is an evaluation component in the bill geared toward measuring success.

Baker shared his support for volunteering and community service, but asked if it would be better to leave those activities to family members to facilitate.

“I’m trying to understand if we need to do this in our curriculum in school or do we do this at home,” he said. “I think that’s the balancing point that we’re trying to get to.”