Service Learning

Service-Learning is a teaching method that combines meaningful service to the community with curriculum-based learning. Students improve their academic skills by applying what they learn in school to the real world; they then reflect on their experience to reinforce the link between their service and their learning. Service-Learning includes; preparation, identifying projects and learning skills; and action. Students can meet the needs of the community three ways:

Direct Service: Students have face-to-face contact with the service recipients, such as serving meals at a homeless shelter or volunteering at a nursing home.

Indirect Service: Students perform a service without having face-to-face contact with the recipient, such as participating in food and clothing drives and fundraising.

Advocacy: Students educate others about a particular issue, such as writing letters to legislators or editors and displaying posters to targeted audiences.

Service Learning Is Not....Volunteerism:

Volunteers engage in service for a variety of personal reasons. They do not necessarily link their service to academic studies nor do they receive academic credit for their efforts.

Community Service:

People engaging in community service do so for a variety of reasons. This is a broad term that can encompass court ordered, stipended or volunteer service. It also does not necessarily link to academic studies.

Work Study Internship:

Student interns frequently work at for-profit business to benefit the financial standing of that business. They are not necessarily working to improve their communities through these internship experiences. There can be overlap between work study internships and service-learning. Students are engaged in service-learning if through their internship experiences they work to improve the health or welfare of their community while linking this to their academic studies.

Service-learning is an instructional strategy that combines meaningful service to the community with curriculum-based learning. Students improve their academic and civic skills by applying what they learn in school to the real world. Students then reflect on their experiences to reinforce the link between their service and their learning.

Service-learning is a form of civic education that provides the student with opportunities to explore what it means to be an active, engaged citizen

The Carroll County Service-Learning Program has been designed to benefit the student, school,
and the community through developmentally appropriate Service-Learning opportunities.

• Meet a recognized need in the community

• Achieve curricular objectives through service-learning

• Reflect throughout the service-learning experience

• Develop student responsibility

• Establish community partnerships

• Plan ahead for service-learning

• Equip students with knowledge and skills needed for service.

1. Students, parents, and individuals/organizations who accept student volunteers are hereby advised that the fact that Service-Learning is mandated is not a sufficient basis for attaching liability to the Carroll County Public Schools. The Board of Education of Carroll County does not provide general liability insurance for individuals or organizations for whom students may perform student service. Parents or guardians of student and individuals or organizations that accept student volunteers should verify the adequacy of their own insurance coverage.

2. The Carroll County Program will meet or exceed the minimum number of hours (75) of Service-Learning as required by the State of Maryland. Students may count a maximum of 20% of total practice and preparation time for a service learning activity, unless pre-approved by the school’s Service-Learning Coordinator.

3. Students may meet the Service-Learning Graduation Requirement by completing the Course-Related Option or by completing the Exemplary Service Award Option.

4. Students may accumulate service hours beginning the summer after the completion of grade 5 through grade 12; and, may complete the requirement any time during that period. Students must complete a minimum of 55 Service-Learning hours by the end of the eleventh grade in order to be promoted to senior status.

5. Service-Learning hours will be pro-rated for students transferring into Carroll County Schools from private or out-of- state schools after the completion of their freshman year. For those students transferring into CCPS after the freshman year, the hours are pro-rated as follows: Sophomores are required to complete 40 hours; junior year 30 hours; first semester of the senior year; 10 hours; second semester of senior year 5 hours.

6. Service-Learning activities will be approved by the school principal or student service coordinator. Students shall not be paid for their service and shall not earn hours for service to a for-profit business. Students shall not earn hours for service in preparation for or during religious services; not earn hours for assisting family members with tasks such as cutting the lawn or babysitting; not be excused from school to earn Service-Learning hours. Check with the school coordinator for clarification.

7. Students choosing the Exemplary Service Option must document Service-Learning hours on the Service-Learning Reflection Form (form on front).

8. Service-Learning reflection forms submitted by students will be approved by the school-based coordinators on a quarterly basis unless specific circumstances require a more immediate response.

Since 1992, the Maryland State Department of Education has required all Maryland students to perform 75 Service-Learning hours. Below are the prorated hours required for students entering a Maryland public school after their Freshman year: 

• Students who transfer during Sophomore Year of High School are required to perform 40 service-learning hours for graduation. 

• Students who transfer students during Junior Year are required to perform 30 service-learning hours for graduation. 

• Students who transfer during the first semester of Senior year are required to perform 10 service-learning hours 

• Students who transfer during the second semester of Senior year are required to perform 5 service-learning hours.  

Enrolling in Carroll County Public Schools during freshman year

Students who transfer to a Carroll County Public School during their freshman year must complete 75 service learning hours. 

Students may submit service-learning hours that they completed from 6th-8th grade when they enroll in Carroll County Public Schools.  Students should complete the Service Learning form and then submit to the Guidance Counselor of the school they are enrolling. 

For more information on service learning please contact the Carroll County Public Schools Coordinator of Service Learning at CCPSServicelearning@carrollk12.org  

• 6th grade Outdoor School (10 hours)*
• 8th grade Family & Consumer Sciences (15 hours)
• Learning for Independence Job Readiness (15 hours)

*Students may earn an additional 10 Service-Learning hours by completing an approved environmental project after the completion of Outdoor School. Students will learn about this opportunity while attending Outdoor School.

• Advanced Laboratory Child Development (30 hours)
• Aquatic Environmental Science (15 hours)
• Child Development Laboratory (30 hours)
• Government/Honors Government (5 hours)
• Terrestrial Environmental Science (15 hours)

• Academic Department Assistant+
• Advanced Cosmetology: Theory & Application
• AP US Government
• Applied Art
• Auto Service Technology I, II
• Building Maintenance
• Culinary Arts 1 and II
• Electrical Construction I, II
• Honors International Studies
• Independent Study – Student Service Learning+
• Issues in American Society
• Mastery of Cosmetology
• Newspaper Production/Honors Newspaper Production+
• Peer Facilitating+
• Principles & Practices of Cosmetology
• Science Research I, II, III/ Honors Science Research I, II, III
• Textiles and Fashion Careers I, II
• US History/Honors US History
• Video Production
• Yearbook Production/Honors Yearbook Production+

• Smithsonian Museum of American History
• Carroll County Recreation and Parks
• City of Sykesville Volunteer Opportunities
• Carroll County Public Library
• Our Daily Bread

• Directory Of Community Services Carroll County
• Baltimore Humane Society
• CHS Knight Support (Virtual Tutoring)
• Westminster Rescue Mission (Delivered Food)
• Blue Water Baltimore

Community Foundation of Carroll County

MSDE Service Learning Project Examples 

• Work for non-profit agencies such as Human Services Program, senior citizen centers, Shepherd's Staff, soup kitchens, the ARC, Salvation Army etc.

• Become involved in service through extra/co-curricular clubs such as Builder's Club, Key Club, VICA, Shout, etc.

• Get involved in community based organizations such as 4-H, Scouting, and recreation programs.

• Explore a career through service-learning such as nursing, teaching, social work, physical therapy, government services, child care, police and fire services, etc.

• Remember, these are just examples.  Always check with your school's Service Learning Coordinator before you complete service learning hours to make sure they qualify.

• Work for a for-profit business such as a fast food restaurant or retail store to earn your service hours.

• Count hours for family obligations such as babysitting a brother or sister, or favors for neighbors such as cutting the grass, shoveling snow or walking the dog.

• Get paid for your service submit hours for service in preparation for or during a religious service. (mission trips, church work days, church dinners etc. are acceptable)

• Remember, these are just examples.  Always check with your school's Service Learning Coordinator before you complete service learning hours to make sure they qualify.

According to MSDE, 

Service-learning is not the same as...​

Volunteerism:

Volunteers engage in service for a variety of personal reasons. They do not necessarily link their service to academic studies nor do they receive academic credit for their efforts.

Community Service:

People engaging in community service do so for a variety of reasons. This is a broad term that can encompass court ordered, stipended or volunteer service. It also does not necessarily link to academic studies.

Work Study Internship:

Student interns frequently work at for-profit business to benefit the financial standing of that business. They are not necessarily working to improve their communities through these internship experiences. There can be overlap between work study internships and service-learning. Students are engaged in service-learning if through their internship experiences they work to improve the health or welfare of their community while linking this to their academic studies.