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ANSWERING THE CALL TO SERVE 
How volunteerism and service can be used as a strategy for school success. 

February 2012 
      
In This Issue
Community Conversations Encourage Education Volunteers
Michigan's AmeriCorps Impacting Students Statewide
Service-Learning Engages Students
 
 
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SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH SERVICE

Improving educational outcomes for students is critical to strengthening Michigan's communities and reviving our state. In his recent State of the State address, Governor Rick Snyder commented on this very issue, "Our children are our future and we need to make sure they're not just college ready, but career ready. We need to make sure we're raising the performance bar on all schools."

With Michigan's future success dependent on a skilled and educated student body, it is crucial to ensure students reach their full potential. But budget constraints and other limiting factors mean schools can't do it alone. Read on to learn how the Michigan Community Service Commission is leveraging committed volunteers and the dedicated support of national service programs to increase student success throughout the state.

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Community Conversations Encourage Education Volunteers 

 

The Center for Michigan, a nonprofit organization focused on engaging citizens to transform Michigan, is hosting a series of "Community Conversations" focused on K-12 education. These townhall-style forums have served as a convening place for customers of the education system - students, parents, families and employers - to gather together and discuss the education system in their community. The meetings focus on what's working, what isn't, and what needs reform.

   

Community members who attend the meetings leave with a Volunteering for School Success fact sheet. This document, created by the Michigan Community Service Commission with the Center for Michigan, is a call-to-action for citizens and helps them to understand how, and why, they can improve their schools through service.

 

For information on how to participate in one of these critical conversations, visit the Center for Michigan's website.

     

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AmeriCorps logo Michigan's AmeriCorps Programs Impact Students Across the State

Throughout Michigan,  more than 200 Michigan's AmeriCorps members are dedicating a year of their lives to change educational outcomes for Michigan students. Serving in seven different AmeriCorps programs, these members spend their days providing intensive service to at-risk populations in communities throughout the state. Whether they are tutoring students, operating after school programs or ensuring drop-outs return to class, these members are making a positive impact on the lives of the children they connect with. Curious how? Take a look at these three programs:

 

CharEm ISD AmeriCorps members are placed in elementary schools throughout the Charlevoix and Emmet county school district. These members serve with students to increase school attendance from the previous year and to increase students' reading levels from the beginning of the school year to the end of the school year. In 2011, the CharEM ISD AmeriCorps program:  

  • Saw 45 percent of their students show an increase in attendance over the previous year.
  • Raised 29 percent of their kindergarteners' DIBELS scores (an assessment tool) while an additional 57 percent of kindergartners stayed on track and did not fall behind.   
  • Raised DIBELS scores for 27 percent of students grades 1-5 while an additional 63 percent stayed on track and did not fall behind.
City Year Detroit AmeriCorps members serve in urban Detroit area schools. In the 2010-2011 program year, they were matched to 441 students providing 1:1 or small group mentoring to impact school attendance. Members followed attendance for middle and high school students (grades 6 -10) who have demonstrated they are off-track or sliding off track in terms of attendance. Each member maintained a focused list of students with whom they provided mentoring, coaching and academic support over the course of the year. During the program year, the City Year Detroit program: 
  • Improved attendance in 213 students. 
  • Reported students with improved attendance came to class 90 percent of the time.   

Schools of Hope AmeriCorps members serve in the Grand Rapids area to increase the literacy rates of elementary students and their families. To accomplish this, members serve in tutoring and after-school reading programs and teach English as a second language (ESL) to parents. In 2011, the Schools of Hope AmeriCorps program: 

  • Saw 82 percent of ESL parents show a significant gain in English listening or reading tests.
  • Reported students whose parents were enrolled in Family Literacy classes improved their standardized test scores at a higher rate (53.5 percent) than those in similar groups.
  • Students enrolled in after school literacy programs showed 1.24 years of growth in their reading scores.

In addition to serving hundreds of thousands of hours themselves, these dedicated AmeriCorps members also spend their time recruiting other community members to serve alongside them. By working hand-in-hand, these members and volunteers are helping students across Michigan reach their full potential.

 

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GYSD Project 2011Service-Learning Engages Students in Learning, Teaches Civic Responsibility

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. By addressing community needs and solving real-life problems through service, service-learning brings relevance to a student's education by helping youth to see beyond the classroom and into the community where they can use their math, science, language, and other skills. 

 

Despite the recent elimination of the Federal Learn and Serve - America program, the MCSC remains committed to advancing service-learning and youth service in Michigan. To do this, the MCSC provides ongoing support and professional development for educators throughout the state. In the coming year, this will include several summer training events and webinars to help educators hone their service-learning skills. 

 

The MCSC's commitment to service-learning does not end with teachers. We are also working to cultivate youth leadership for service-learning in schools by coordinating the Service-Learning Youth Council (SLYC). SLYC is made up of youth service advocates who are leading their schools and communities in service-learning. These students know first-hand the impact that service-learning can make on education and the community.     

 

"I have learned that it is very important to get involved in your community in some way," explained Derwin Jackson, a senior at Carrollton High School in Carrollton, Michigan. "Service-learning is so important to me because I love helping people and giving back to my community. In our school we have a "Seniors 2 Seniors" project where the senior class of Carrollton goes out into the community and helps senior citizens with home improvement and minor home maintenance repair. This project and service-learning has changed my school."

 

In addition to providing training and resources for youth and teachers who wish to engage in service-learning, the MCSC also provides mini-grants for youth service projects. Visit the MCSC website for more information about current opportunities.    


Are you ready to get involved? Several organizations are in place to mobilize volunteers for schools. To explore what volunteer position fits your skills, take a look at this great fact sheet or search our volunteer portal online. 
 
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About the MCSC
The Michigan Community Service Commission builds a culture of service by providing vision and resources to strengthen communities through volunteerism. In 2011-2012, the MCSC is granting nearly $8 million in federal funds to local communities for volunteer programs and activities. The MCSC is funding 24 AmeriCorps programs, 20 Learn and Serve programs, and seven Volunteer Michigan grantees. The Governor's Service Awards and Mentor Michigan are also premier programs of the MCSC.