Contact: Chawn Greene-Farmer

Director of Communications

(517) 335-7875

greenefarmerc@michigan.com

www.michigan.gov/mcsc

Lansing, MI - The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) today announced 20 Michigan K-12 school districts will receive $361,339 in Learn and Serve funding to develop high quality service-learning programs for the 2009-2010 school year. 

Service-learning is a teaching and learning approach that connects meaningful service to the community with classroom instruction that enriches learning, teaches civic responsibility, and fosters personal growth.  It helps youth see beyond the classroom and into the community where they learn math, science, language arts, and other required subjects by addressing community needs and solving real-life problems. The 2009-2010 Learn and Serve - Michigan grantees will use service-learning to address local needs in their communities centered around education, public safety, human needs, homeland security, and the environment.    

"Service-learning has been shown to build critical thinking and communication skills, increase student motivation, and improve academic knowledge and performance," said Paula Kaiser VanDam, Executive Director of the MCSC.  "We are excited 20 school districts in Michigan will enrich their students' academic experiences through Learn and Serve grants."

The following 20 Michigan K-12 school districts will receive funding for the coming year:

Of the 20 Learn and Serve - Michigan grantees, four are new to the program for the 2009-2010 school year.  They include Bingham Arts Academy, Covert Public Schools, Saranac Community Schools, and Stanton Township Public Schools.

"Service-learning has a positive impact on students' academic achievement, personal and social development, and civic engagement," said Mike Flanagan, Superintendent of Public Instruction at the Michigan Department of Education.  "It provides numerous opportunities for students to apply what they are learning to solve real world community problems."

In a recent report released by the MCSC, 2008 Learn and Serve - Michigan:

• Helped 26,316 students complete 538,477 hours of service-learning.
• Engaged 1,042 K-12 Michigan teachers in service-learning curriculum.
• Utilized more than 2,713 adult volunteers in completing 70 community revitalization projects.

For more information about Learn and Serve - Michigan or to learn more about specific grantees, visit www.michigan.gov/mcsc.

BACKGROUND:

Learn and Serve - Michigan, administered by the Michigan Community Service Commission in partnership with the Michigan Department of Education , is part of the Learn and Serve America grant program supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service.  The MCSC funds the development and implementation of high-quality service-learning programs in K-12 schools.

The Michigan Community Service Commission builds a culture of service by providing vision and resources to strengthen communities through volunteerism.  In 2009-2010, the MCSC will grant more than $7.7 million in federal and state funds to local communities for volunteer programs and activities.  The MCSC is funding 19 AmeriCorps programs and 20 Learn and Serve programs.  The Governor's Service Awards, Mentor Michigan, and Michigan's Volunteer Investment Grants are also premier programs of the MCSC.  The MCSC is housed in the Michigan Department of Human Services, whose mission is to assist children, families, and vulnerable adults to be safe, stable, and self-supporting.  The Corporation for National and Community Service grants federal funding that the MCSC administers to its programs.