March 13, 2006	Volume 5, Number 8

DPI offers professional development in service-learning

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is offering a professional development course for educators from up to 10 Wisconsin school districts from April 20-22 at the House on the Rock in Spring Green. Each district will identify a team of up to six educators to participate in the training and implement service-learning in their schools.

There is strong evidence that high quality service-learning helps young people acquire important academic, civic, and life skills. Students engaged in service-learning have been shown to be more motivated, and to take greater responsibility for their learning. Consequently, these students have demonstrated higher achievement test results, grade point averages, and attendance rates. Strong youth programs offer opportunities for young people to build social, emotional, and cognitive learning skills, and to increase citizen engagement and build stronger communities.

This program’s intensive training will provide educators with the necessary skills to build a sustainable structure for service-learning, including how to incorporate high quality service-learning into the school curriculum. Modeled after best practices in professional development, an optional graduate course will continue online throughout the 2006 school year, offering meaningful professional growth through ongoing support and follow-up meetings.

Each participating educator will become familiar with the elements of high-quality civic education, and with infusing service-learning into the curriculum; strengthen skills in facilitating young people’s community-building work; develop skills in messaging and community outreach; create a plan to integrate service-learning into the culture of their school through classroom instruction; become part of a network of educators who utilize and support service-learning and civic education; and create a plan for district-wide institutionalization of service-learning to integrate into a grant proposal for up to $20,000 for the upcoming Learn and Serve America grant competition.

Each district participating in the training should commit a team to provide service-learning experiences for students by infusing service-learning and civic education into classroom instruction. Each team should have up to six educators (at least two are required); the building principal (recommended); and may include other teachers or school staff interested in offering program support, as well as a parent or other community member who will assist with service-learning efforts. Each district is also asked for active administrative support to ensure the success and continuation of the program.

Cost for the training is $75 per team of up to six participants. Additional participants are $150 per person. Costs include the training, materials, implementation guide, meals, and hotel (double occupancy). Districts are expected to pay mileage and staff time away from the district. For further details, contact Teri Dary, 608-261-7494, or teri.dary@dpi.state.wi.us. For more information about the training, see http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/fscp/slupdate.html.

Last updated on 3/13/2006