The Best Practices for Service-Learning
were developed by the Community Works sponsored focus group CLASS
[Connecting Learning and Service to Standards]

ABOUT The Focus Group

THE PURPOSE of CLASS was to develop practical and accessible tools that enhance and integrate service-learning into the school curricula. CLASS worked as a group between 1998 and 2000, using The Essential Elements for Service-Learning which had been developed during the mid 1990’s by teachers from across the country. CLASS developed a closely aligned set of Best Practices for Service-Learning and a related set of teaching tools, based on The Elements.

Subsequently educators from acoss the country contributed feedback as the final products were developed through a national review process.

CLASS also worked with local and state Framework of Standards, (Vermont and Windham Southeast Supervisory Union), as they related to Service-Learning, with the goal of developing ways to communicate these standards effectively to staff, students and community.

CLASS was sponsored and funded by Vermont Community Works, in part through a grant from The Corporation for National Service. The group’s work is made available to teachers to support the advancement of service-learning.

WHO PARTICIPATED IN CLASS:
Kathy Clark, Betsy Dickinson, Mike Friel, Lynn Tobey, Laura Lawson Tucker,
Sherry Stimmel, Evvie Jakub, Elly Majonen, Joe Brooks, Sue Bos, Susan Bonthron,
Mary Whalen, Peter Hayward

NATIONAL REVIEWERS:
We especially thank the many educators who participated in the national review of the workbook. Representatives from the following organizations and initiatives shared their invaluable experience and insight:

Academy for Educational Development, Academy for Learning of Illinois, Alabama State Department of Education, Alliance for Lifelong Learning, Capstone Institute Participants, Clay County School District, Florida, VCW Summer Institute Participants, The Compass Institute, Currier Memorial School, Department of Service-Learning, Corporation for National and Community Service, Education For Sustainability, Fairfield Elementary School, Foundation for Excellent Schools, Guilford Central School, John Dewey Project on Progressive Education, Learning In Deed, Manchester Middle School, Montgomery Elementary School, Morgan and Associates, National Service-Learning Clearinghouse, National Service-Learning Exchange, The National Youth Leadership Council, Newark Street School, Northern Suburban Special Education District, Partners for Success, DuPage Office of Education, Project Service Leadership, Putney Central School, Rutland Regional Education Alliance, Thetford Academy, Townshend Elementary School, Twinfield Union High School, University of Texas at El Paso, University of Vermont, Wardsboro Elementary School, Washington State Youth Volunteer Corps, Washington Village School, Washington Commission for National, and Community Service, Windham Southeast Supervisory Union