New York State Commission on
National & Community Service

New York State Commission on
National & Community Service

David A. Paterson

Governor

Susan K. Stern

Commission Chair

Mark J. Walter

Executive Director

Learn and Serve Resources

Learn and Serve America

Learn and Serve America provides grants to schools, colleges, and nonprofit groups to support efforts to engage more than 43,000 New York students in community service linked to academic achievement and the development of civic skills. This type of learning, called service learning, improves communities while preparing young people for a lifetime of responsible citizenship. In addition to providing grants, Learn and Serve America serves as a resource on service and service-learning to teachers, faculty members, schools, and community groups.

Service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. Learn and Serve America provides grants to schools, higher education institutions and community-based organizations that engage students, their teachers and others in activities that tie service to academic learning. To learn more about how your organization can partner with Learn and Serve America contact the New York State Education Department at (518) 474-3719.

Grants

Available to schools, higher education institutions, Native American tribes, community-based organizations, and others to assist in the planning and implementation of service-learning programs. To learn more about service-learning grants for K-12 school districts in New York State, please contact Fran Hollon, LSA Statewide Coordinator, at the New York State Department of Education at (518) 408-1429.

Training and Technical Assistance

The National Service-Learning Clearinghouse provides a library of lesson plans, research, and project examples to support service-learning programs.

Recognition Programs

The Presidential Freedom Scholarships and the President’s Volunteer Service Award acknowledge outstanding youth service