Service Learning Research and Resources
Numerous studies have documented the positive influence of service learning on students’ academic performance, interpersonal development, and sense of civic responsibility. Click on the links below to access major research studies from the last decade, resources for implementing and funding service learning projects, and relevant journals, newsletters, and listservs.
Research and Implementation Topics
Listed in chronological order (most recent first)
Growing to Greatness: The State of Service Learning Project
National Youth Leadership Council
An ongoing study of the state of K-12 service learning in the United States, gathering a range of service learning information including annual national surveys, articles on related topics, state-by-state descriptions of service learning activities, and profiles of national organizations. The information is published in yearly reports that can be ordered from NYLC or downloaded online.
Linking Service-Learning and No Child Left Behind Act Title Programs
RMC Research Corporation
Reports on a wide range of effects of service learning, such as the links between service learning and drug-free schools, dropout prevention, English language instruction, and the academic achievement of disadvantaged students.
K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice
National Youth Leadership Council, 2008
Eight measurable and actionable standards and 35 indicators for implementing service learning projects that are more likely to have positive outcomes in the areas including academic performance, civic engagement and responsibility, personal and social skills, career aspirations, and reduction of risky behaviors.
Engaged for Success: Service-Learning as a Tool for High School Dropout Prevention
Civic Enterprises, April 2008
A 36-page report presenting research on the potential of service learning to address some of the principle causes of dropping out by promoting student engagement, attendance, motivation, and achievement. The report suggests that service learning could be a promising way to stem the tide of dropouts and create a generation of youth who are academically prepared for success in college and who possess a strong sense of civic responsibility.
National Survey on Service-Learning and Transitioning to Adulthood
National Youth Leadership Council and Harris Interactive (a global market research and consulting firm), November 2006
A 129-page report on the impact of service learning's on the youth-to-adult transition. Based on a national survey, the report reveals that participants carry the benefits of their participation in service learning into adulthood, as displayed through positive impacts on their civic engagement, pursuit of higher education, career development, and personal relationships.
Educating for Active Citizenship: Service-Learning, School-Based Service and Civic Engagement
Corporation for National and Community Service, March 2006
A 43-page report of the findings from a 2005 survey of more than 3000 U.S. 12-18-year-olds, specifically looking at 1) who among youth participate in school-based service; 2) their perceptions of what they accomplished in the experience; and 3) the relationship between this school-based service and their attitudes and behaviors toward other forms of civic engagement. See a fact sheet detailing the major findings.
Heads, Hearts, and Hands: The Research on K-12 Service-Learning
Shelley Billig, RMC Research Corporation, 2004
A 14-page review of national service learning research studies and programs from the field, summarizing the effects of service learning on students in three domains: cognitive (“heads”), affective (“hearts”), and behavioral (“hands”), along with effects on schools and communities.
Citizenship and Service-Learning in K-12 Schools
RMC Research Corporation, Denver, January 2003 (updated April 2007)
This fact sheet starts by defining citizenship and then discusses the connection between citizenship and service learning, offering links to many studies of the impacts of service learning.
How Service Learning Affects Students
Alexander Astin, et al., Higher Education Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, January 2000
A 6-page executive summary of an extensive study of the impact of service learning on student improvements in the areas of academic outcomes, values, self-efficacy, leadership, career plans, and plans to participate in further service after college.
Service-Learning and Community Service in K-12 Public Schools
Rebecca Skinner and Chris Chapman, National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, September 1999
An 18-page report presenting estimates of the percentage of U.S. public elementary, middle, and high schools incorporating service learning into their course curriculum and providing the most recent data on school engagement in community service.
The Impacts of Service-Learning on Youth, Schools, and Communities: Research on K-12 School-Based Service-Learning, 1990-1999
Shelley Billig, RMC Research Corporation, as part of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Learning In Deed Initiative
This research brief summarizes data from 1990-1999 on service learning, presenting both general trends and detailed data.
Campus Compact
A university coalition that provides extensive resources on integrating service-learning into higher education, including model syllabi submitted by college and university professors across the country.
The Complete Guide to Service Learning: Proven, Practical Ways to Engage Students in Civic Responsibility, Academic Curriculum, & Social Action
A book by Cathy Berger Kaye that provides a wealth of activities, ideas, and resources to support service learning in K-12 and higher education. Published in 2003.
Connecting Thinking and Action: Ideas for Service-Learning Reflection
A collection of reflection activities for various subjects and grade spans from the RMC Research Corporation (2003).
Corporation for National and Community Service
A resource on nationally supported service opportunities including AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America. Also includes information on evaluation, research, and funding for service learning.
K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice
NYLC's eight measurable and actionable standards and 35 indicators for implementing service learning projects that have positive outcomes in the areas including academic performance, civic engagement and responsibility, personal and social skills, career aspirations, and reduction of risky behaviors.
Learning In Deed
An initiative dedicated to making service learning part of every K-12 student's experience. The website includes policy, research studies, examples of local and state level initiatives, and news from the National Commission on Service-Learning.
National and Global Youth Service Day
Youth Service America coordinates the annual National and Global Youth Service Day in April – the largest service event in the world. The website offers project ideas, grant funding for projects, a free planning toolkit, and curriculum.
National Center for Learning and Citizenship
The Education Commission of the States' National Center for Learning and Citizenship assists policymakers and educators developing policies that support K-12 school-based service learning opportunities. The website offers an array of resources including a bimonthly newsletter, Citizenship Matters, which focuses on improving citizenship education in schools.
National Service-Learning Clearinghouse
An extensive resource on service learning, featuring events, research, and tools to support service learning programs, including a K-12 starter kit. The Clearinghouse operates national email discussion lists and maintains a large library collection.
National Service-Learning Partnership
An organization dedicated to advancing service learning as a core element of the educational experience of every elementary, middle, and secondary school student in the United States. It provides a network of service learning supporters, tools, resources, and best practices, as well as a "service-learning marketplace,” and monthly updates with news and opportunities to take action.
National Youth Leadership Council
An organization dedicated to increasing the capacity of schools and communities to engage young people in active learning and service. It offers a variety of tools and programs on service learning for youth as well as professional development opportunities for educators, including information about the Annual National Service Conference.
Project Citizen
Cosponsored by the National Commission on Service-Learning (NCSL) and the Center for Civic Education, Project Citizen is a national academic competition for middle school students, designed to involve young people in solving community problems.
Texas Center for Service-Learning
An initiative to support service learning in Texas schools through programs, training, and technical assistance. The website provides a concise overview of the benefits of service learning to students, schools, and communities.
The Big Dummy’s Guide to Service Learning: 27 Simple Answers to Good Questions
A website providing a primer on basic service learning questions.
The National Service Resource Center
The Corporation for National and Community Service’s database of effective practices allows you to search for service learning best practices by topic or subject area.
UC Berkeley Service Learning Research and Development Center
A resource center providing service learning publications, research, and evaluation tools.
Youth Service America
The appendices to Youth Service America’s project planning service learning curriculum guide lists several hundred projects that students can undertake. The list is broken down by subject area.
101 Ideas for Combining Service & Learning
A resource outlining ideas for service learning projects in different academic subjects (art, English, history, etc.). Although it focuses on college level projects, many of the ideas can be adapted.
Community Works Journal
Available electronically and in hard copy, the Community Works Journal showcases innovative educational strategies, practices, and curriculum that involve teachers and students in meaningful work within their communities.
The Generator
The National Youth Leadership Council’s newsletter provides teachers with tools, tips, and information that can be applied directly in the classroom, along with summaries of recent research and the implications for teachers and other service learning practitioners. The newsletter comes out ten times a year and is offered in hard copy (for $12) or electronically for free.
National Service Learning Clearinghouse K-12 Listserv
NSLC's electronic discussion forum connects a network of administrators, practitioners, researchers, and students. Visit the website for instructions on how to subscribe.
Service-Learning Advances
The electronic newsletter of the National Service-Learning Partnership features policy updates, funding opportunities, and other news. Membership in the Partnership is free and you can sign up to receive the newsletter.
Yes!
A journal of positive, effective, locally based, and replicable solutions to global issues. The magazine focuses on critical thinking, imaginative solutions, hope and opportunity. The website features resource guides for taking action.