Florida's Scholarship Programs: Community Service Requirements & Project Ideas, Schemes and Mind Maps of Economics

Download Florida's Scholarship Programs: Community Service Requirements & Project Ideas and more Schemes and Mind Maps Economics in PDF only on Docsity! Community Service Implementation Guidelines Miami-Dade County Public Schools November 2014 (Revised) SCHOOL BOARD OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA Ms. Perla Tabares Hantman, Chair Dr. Lawrence S. Feldman, Vice-Chair Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall Ms. Susie V. Castillo Mr. Carlos L. Curbelo Dr. Wilbert “Tee” Holloway Dr. Martin Karp Dr. Marta Pérez Ms. Raquel A. Regalado Julian Lafaurie Student Advisor Mr. Alberto M. Carvalho Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Maria L. Izquierdo, Chief Academic Officer Office of Academics and Transformation Dr. Maria P. de Armas, Assistant Superintendent Division of Academics, Office of Academics and Transformation Mr. Robert C. Brazofsky, Executive Director Department of Social Sciences 3 Defining Community Service Community service projects are well-planned, organized, and voluntary efforts designed to address a specific need in the community. Well-conceived projects provide students with the opportunity to plan and implement a project to which they feel personally committed. Below is a brief description of the three ways to categorize community service projects - school-site service, group community service, and individual community service. Students may fulfill the community service graduation requirement using any one, or combination, of these three project models. School-Site Service Projects School-site service is a traditional form of community service currently performed by students. School-site service provides a meaningful way to complete the community service project requirement while also helping meet the needs of the school community. School-site projects also provide excellent opportunities for at-risk students and for students with special needs; e.g., students that must work to provide family income. School-site projects should promote an on-going commitment on the part of students to provide support and assistance to their school. Examples of School-Site Projects include:  Student plans, coordinates, and monitors a school-wide letter writing campaign in support of an issue of local importance.  Student tutors other students in reading, math, science, social science or other subject for a semester.  Student serves as a Community Service aide to an appropriate teacher or counselor and assists with the efforts to implement and monitor community service experiences. Group Community Service Projects Group service projects provide excellent opportunities for students to complete service requirements while also meeting the needs of an individual neighborhood or community. Group community service projects provide excellent service opportunities for organized student groups; e.g., service clubs, honor societies, or athletic teams. (Membership in a service club or organization does not in itself meet an individual student’s community service responsibility.) Group projects should promote an on-going commitment on the part of students to provide support and assistance to the community. Examples of Group Community Service Projects include:  Students develop an Adopt-A-Park program that includes organizing and monitoring regular work details and beautification. 4  Students work regularly at a senior citizens’ center assisting with cleaning, food service, and visitations.  Students work regularly at a children’s home and assist with child care and school work; e.g., reading stories, helping with homework. Individual Community Service Projects Individual community service projects allow a student to complete service requirements while addressing a community need to which he/she is personally committed. Individual projects should promote an on-going commitment on the part of the student to provide support and assistance to his/her community. Examples of Individual Community Service Projects include:  Student hosts story hours for younger children at a community library or at nearby elementary school.  Student reads to or records for the blind.  Student serves as a volunteer at a museum or cultural center. 5 Community Service Within the Social Science Curriculum The Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for Social Sciences includes objectives related to Civics and Civic Responsibility in all courses and grade levels, K-12. Civic Responsibility includes objectives and competencies that support the concept of community service at both the elementary and secondary levels. At the elementary level, students are introduced to the value of volunteerism and the importance of cooperation at home, at school, and in the community. At the middle school level, students are given the opportunity to experience group community service projects as well as master complex and rigorous content standards in a year-long Civics course. At the senior high level, the emphasis is on students identifying, planning, and implementing a community service project. Specifically, the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for Social Sciences for the required 12 th grade course in U.S. Government includes the following related benchmarks:  SS.912.C.2.2 Evaluate the importance of political participation and civic participation.  SS.912.C.2.5 Conduct a service project to further the public good.  SS.912.C.2.8 Analyze the impact of citizen participation as a means of achieving political and social change.  SS.912.C.2.10 Monitor current public issues in Florida.  SS.912.C.2.11 Analyze public policy solutions or courses of action to resolve a local, state, or federal issue.  Please note: A student’s community service project may or may not include specific reference to these benchmarks. 8 Meeting the Requirements for Graduation To complete the community service graduation requirement for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, each student must complete a community service project. The project may be completed at any time during a student’s high school years. No prescribed number of service hours is required unless students are working toward the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program or the Superintendent’s Diploma of Distinction. Please note the hour requirements for the following programs accordingly: the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship’s Florida Academic Scholars Award requires 100 hours of community service, the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship’s Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) requires 75 hours of community service, and the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship’s Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars requires 30 hours of service. For further information regarding the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, please visit: http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/bf/bfmain.htm. Please note: for specific community service requirements for other programs such as AICE or IB, please see your school counselor. In addition, students who complete the course requirements for the course listed below also meet the community service requirement for graduation.  Voluntary School/Community Service (210433001 .5 credit; social studies elective) 9 Monitoring and Recording the Completion of Community Service Projects The primary responsibility for seeing that community service projects are completed and recorded rests with the individual students. However, 12 th grade government and economics teachers, counselors, office staff, and school-site administrators are also involved in this process. The information that follows outlines the procedures to be used in monitoring and documenting the completion of students’ community service projects. Required Student Forms To facilitate the monitoring and recording process, all students are required to complete the Project Proposal, Project Summary Report, and Activity Log forms (see Addenda A, B, and C). (Note: Only students working to meet the requirements for Florida Bright Futures Scholarship program or the Superintendent’s Diploma of Distinction need to complete the Hours Completed section of the Activity Log form.). Please note: for specific community service requirements for other programs such as AICE or IB, please see your school counselor. Monitoring and Recording Procedures for Students Completing the Community Service Projects Prior to 12 th Grade  All students are required to complete the Project Proposal form prior to beginning the project. The Project Proposal should be reviewed and signed by the student’s parent or guardian.  The completed Project Proposal form should be submitted by the student to the appropriate counselor or the principal’s designee for approval and signature. One copy of the form shall be retained by the counselor or principal’s designee, and one copy shall be retained by the student.  All students should record any service activities in which they are involved on the Activity Log as they work on the project.  After the community service project has been completed, the student must complete the Project Summary Report and Activity Log and have each signed by a parent or guardian. (Only students working to meet the requirements for Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program or the Superintendent’s Diploma of Distinction need to complete the Hours Completed section of the Activity Log form.) Please note: for specific community service requirements for other programs such as AICE or IB, please see your school counselor.  The completed Project Summary Report and Activity Log should be turned in to the appropriate counselor or principal’s designee who approves and signs them, and will then be 10 responsible for entering the project as completed in the M-DCPS ISIS computer file.  A copy of the Project Summary Report and Activity Log should be retained for the cumulative record and another copy should be retained by the student.  The final authority in matters related to a student’s Project Proposal, Project Summary Report, or Activity Log rests with the school’s principal. 13 Information Technology Services (ITS) Support The following support services are available from Information Technology Services (ITS):  ISIS Entries for Students that Complete the Community Service Requirements Prior to 12 th Grade - The registrar or data entry clerk enters the date the student completed the community service project into the ISIS file.  Mass Update Screen for Students that Complete the Community Service Requirements During 12 th Grade - Community service projects may be entered into the ISIS file as completed by manual entry on the update screen.  Community Service Tracking Report - The Community Service Tracking Report lists all seniors enrolled at the school and indicates whether they have completed the community service requirement.  Community Service Class Lists for Government and Economics Classes - This report indicates, by class and by teacher, whether a student has or has not completed the community service requirement.  Course Credit Analysis (CCA), Student History, and Counselor Summary Reports - These reports include information regarding the completion of the community service requirement.  ISIS Field for Entry of Community Service Hours - On the Miscellaneous screen, schools may enter the required hours of community service needed for Florida Bright Futures Scholarship program or the Superintendent’s Diploma of Distinction. (The total hours must be entered.) A mass entry screen for entering community service hours is also available.  Please note the hour requirements for the following programs accordingly: the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship’s Florida Academic Scholars Award requires 100 hours of community service, the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship’s Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) requires 75 hours of community service, and the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship’s Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars requires 30 hours of service. For further information regarding the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, please visit: http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/bf/bfmain.htm.  Please also note: for specific community service requirements for other programs such as AICE or IB, please see your school counselor. 14 Community Service Project Proposal Addendum A Student’s Name I.D. #______________ School __________________________________________________________________________ Grade Level Title of Project _____________________________________________ Project Starting Date __________________________ Directions: 1. Complete the Proposal form in ink and sign it. Print clearly or type. Attach additional page(s), as needed. 2. Have the Proposal form signed by a parent or guardian. 3. Submit the Proposal for approval and signature. (Seniors submit the form for approval to their government or economics teacher. All other students submit the form to the appropriate counselor or the principal’s designee.) Project Description - What is your project? Be specific about what you will do. Need - Why is this project needed? For whom will it be valuable? Final Results - What do you hope to accomplish as result of your work? I have reviewed my son/daughter’s Community Service Project Proposal and understand that a community service project must be completed in order to meet the graduation requirements for Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Parent/guardian’s signature ________________________________________________________ Student’s signature _______________________________________________________________ Signature of approving teacher, counselor, or principal’s designee ________________________ 15 Project Summary Report Addendum B Student’s Name I.D. #______________ School __________________________________________________________________________ Grade Level Title of Project ____________________________________________ Grade Level Project Completed________________ Project Completion Date ______________ Directions: 1. Complete the Project Summary Report in ink and sign it. Print clearly or type. 2. Complete all parts of the required essay as outlined below on your own paper. 3. Attach the essay to the Project Summary Report form. (It is strongly suggested that a duplicated copy be made of the essay.) 4. Have the completed Summary Report reviewed and signed by a parent/guardian. 5. Submit the Summary Report and attached essay for final approval and signature. (Seniors submit the Summary Report for approval to their government or economics teacher. All other students submit the Summary Report to the appropriate counselor or the principal=s designee.) Required Essay: Summarize your community service experience in essay form. Address each of the following in your essay. A. Briefly describe your project and the main activities of your project. Describe changes you made from your original proposal. B. Briefly outline the steps you took to plan, implement, and complete the project. Indicate how much time you spent in completing all aspects of this project. C. Describe the problems that occurred during the project. Explain how these problems were handled. D. Describe the impact you believe your project had on the community or on the people who received your service. E. Describe what you learned about your community as you worked on your project. Describe what you learned about yourself and the importance of giving something back to others. I have reviewed my son/daughter’s Project Summary Report and understand that a community service project must be completed in order to meet the graduation requirements for Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Parent/guardian’s signature ________________________________________________________ Student’s signature _______________________________________________________________ Signature of approving teacher, counselor, or principal’s designee________________________ 18 School-Site Service Projects School-site service is an excellent way of meeting the requirement for community service while also helping meet the special needs of a school. If you choose to complete a school-site project, you should commit to providing on-going support and assistance to the school. Examples of School-Site Projects include:  Student plans, coordinates, and monitors a school-wide letter writing campaign in support of an issue of local importance.  Student tutors other students in reading or math for a semester.  Student serves as a Community Service aide to an appropriate teacher or counselor and assists with the efforts to implement and monitor community service experiences. Group Community Service Projects Group community service projects provide excellent opportunities for you to complete your community service requirement while also helping meet the special needs of an individual neighborhood or community. Group community service projects provide excellent service opportunities for organized student groups such as service clubs, honor societies, and athletic teams. Membership in a service club or organization does not in itself meet your community service responsibilities. However, you can work with others in the organization on community service projects in order to meet your responsibility. Examples of Group Community Service Projects include:  Students develop an Adopt-A-Park program that includes organizing and monitoring regular work details and beautification.  Students work regularly at a senior citizens’ center assisting with feeding and visitations.  Students work regularly at a children’s home and assist with child care or school work (e.g., reading stories or helping with homework). Individual Community Service Projects Individual community service projects allow you to complete the service requirement while addressing a community need which interests you. When working on an individual project, you should be committed to providing on-going assistance to the community. Examples of Individual Community Service Projects include:  Student hosts story hours for younger children at a community library or at a nearby elementary school.  Student reads to or records for the blind.  Student serves as a volunteer at a museum or cultural center. 19 How Do I Select a Meaningful Community Service Project? You should think about the following questions before selecting a community service project:  What need or problem exists in the community that interests you?  What project can you develop in order to work on this need or problem?  Will your project provide an important service?  Does the project match your interests, talents, and abilities?  Are there any special qualifications you need in order to work on the project?  Will you be able to spend the necessary time on the project?  What planning steps are needed before beginning the project?  Who needs to be contacted before the project begins? The organizations and agencies listed below typically welcome volunteers. This list should help you develop ideas for community service projects.  Chambers of Commerce  Charities  City governments  Civic organizations  Convalescent homes  County agencies  Cultural centers  Day care centers  Elementary or middle schools  Hospices  Hospitals  Libraries  Museums  Parks  Recreation centers  Religious organizations  Service organizations  United Way agencies  Zoos Additionally, you are strongly encouraged to involve your parents/guardians in the process of selecting your project. While this is your project, their support is also necessary. 20 How Do I Evaluate the Effectiveness of My Project? - The Community Service Journal How can you determine if you are accomplishing the plans you outlined in you Community Service Project Proposal? How can you evaluate the effectiveness of your project? Feedback from the people you are working with on you project can help you answer this question. Your own feelings, however, about what you have accomplished are also very important. To help you evaluate your progress toward meeting your project goals, it is suggested that you keep a journal of your progress. Journal entries could be made each time you work on your project, much like a diary, or they could be made periodically, much like a progress report. It is suggested that you attach the journal entries to your Project Summary Report to support what you say in your report. Below are some questions you might consider for your journal. Feel free to add other questions.  What compliments or positive input have you received about your project?  What criticisms, if any, have you received?  Has the criticism caused you to change your project in any way? Describe the changes.  What do you feel is the main contribution you have made to the project?  Have you been able to spend the time needed to make the project a success?  What other assistance from students or the community is needed to improve the project?  How does volunteering make you feel? Why do you feel this way?  Overall, how do you feel the project is progressing? How Do I Receive Credit for the Community Service Project When It Is Completed? You may complete the required community service project anytime between 9 th and 12 th grade; however, it is strongly suggested that you not wait until your senior year to begin work on this graduation requirement. To receive credit for the project, follow the procedures outlined below. Required Student Forms  You are required to complete the Project Proposal, Project Summary Report, and Activity Log to receive credit for the community service project. If you are also working to meet the requirements for Florida Bright Futures Scholarship program the Superintendent’s Diploma of Distinction, you must complete the Hours Completed section of the Activity Log form. It should be noted that the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship’s Florida Academic Scholars Award requires 100 hours of community service, the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship’s Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) requires 75 hours of community service, and the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship’s Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars requires 30 hours of community service. Please note: for specific community service requirements for other programs such as AICE or IB, please see your school counselor.  Copies of the three forms are available at your school. 23 community service project. 8. Provide documentation of at least 75 hours of school or community service. C. Special note: None 24 Anti-Discrimination Policy Federal and State Laws The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida adheres to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment and educational programs/activities and strives affirmatively to provide equal opportunity for all as required by: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended - prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, or national origin. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 - prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender. Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) as amended - prohibits discrimination on the basis of age with respect to individuals who are at least 40. The Equal Pay Act of 1963 as amended - prohibits gender discrimination in payment of wages to women and men performing substantially equal work in the same establishment. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - prohibits discrimination against the disabled. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) - prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in employment, public service, public accommodations and telecommunications. The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) - requires covered employers to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to "eligible" employees for certain family and medical reasons. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 - prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Florida Educational Equity Act (FEEA) - prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, gender, national origin, marital status, or handicap against a student or employee. Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992 - secures for all individuals within the state freedom from discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap, or marital status. Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) - prohibits discrimination against employees or applicants because of genetic information. Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act of 2002 – no public school shall deny equal access to, or a fair opportunity for groups to meet on school premises or in school facilities before or after school hours, or discriminate against any group officially affiliated with Boy Scouts of America or any other youth or community group listed in Title 36 (as a patriotic society). Veterans are provided re-employment rights in accordance with P.L. 93-508 (Federal Law) and Section 295.07 (Florida Statutes), which stipulate categorical preferences for employment. In Addition: School Board Policies 1362, 3362, 4362, and 5517 - Prohibit harassment and/or discrimination against students, employees, or applicants on the basis of sex, race, color, ethnic or national origin, religion, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender, gender identification, social and family background, linguistic preference, pregnancy, and any other legally prohibited basis. Retaliation for engaging in a protected activity is also prohibited. Revised: (07.14)