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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to service learning in the public school

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system; creating s. 1003.497, F.S.; requiring the

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Department of Education to encourage school districts to

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initiate, adopt, expand, and institutionalize service-

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learning programs, activities, and policies in

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kindergarten through grade 12; defining service learning;

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providing for department assistance to a school district

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that elects to implement service-learning activities;

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requiring development and adoption of service-learning

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courses; authorizing service-learning activities to count

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toward high school graduation or academic award

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requirements; encouraging school districts to include

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service learning as part of courses or activities required

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for high school graduation or receipt of academic awards;

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providing an effective date.

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1.  Section 1003.497, Florida Statutes, is created

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to read:

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     1003.497 Service learning.--

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     (1) The Department of Education shall encourage school

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districts to initiate, adopt, expand, and institutionalize

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service-learning programs, activities, and policies in

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kindergarten through grade 12. Service learning refers to a

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student-centered, research-based teaching and learning strategy

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that engages students in meaningful service activities in their

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schools or communities. Service-learning activities are directly

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tied to academic curricula, standards, and course, district, or

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state assessments. Service-learning activities foster academic

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achievement, character development, civic engagement, and career

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exploration and enable students to apply curriculum content,

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skills, and behaviors taught in the classroom.

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     (2) Upon request of any school district that elects to

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implement service-learning programs, activities, or policies, the

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department shall provide assistance in locating, leveraging, and

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utilizing available or alternative financial resources that will

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assist school districts or teachers desiring to receive training

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and other resources to develop and administer service-learning

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programs or activities. School districts are encouraged to

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include kindergarten through grade 12 service-learning programs

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and activities in proposals they submit to the department under

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federal entitlement grants and competitive state and federal

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grants administered through the department.

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     (3)(a) The department shall develop and adopt elective

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service-learning courses for inclusion in middle and high school

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course code directories, which will allow additional

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opportunities for students to engage in service learning. School

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districts are encouraged to provide support for the use of

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service learning at any grade level as an instructional strategy

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to address appropriate areas of state education standards for

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student knowledge and performance.

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     (b) The hours that high school students devote to course-

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based service-learning activities may be counted toward meeting

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community service requirements for high school graduation and

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community service requirements for participation in the Florida

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Bright Futures Scholarship Program. School districts are

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encouraged to include service learning as part of any course or

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activity required for high school graduation and to include and

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accept service-learning activities and hours in requirements for

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academic awards, especially those awards that currently include

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community service as a criterion or selection factor.

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.