Toolkit on how to address community involvement

Each school corporation may encourage the development of a community service ethic among high school students in grades 9 through 12 in the school corporation by offering each student in grades 9 through 12:

• (1) as part of the corporation’s elective curriculum;
• (2) in compliance with rules adopted by the state board under section 9 [IC 20-30-14-9] of this chapter; and
• (3) upon completion by the student of approved community service or other volunteer service; the opportunity for the student to earn academic credit toward the student’s minimum graduation requirements.

For each student who wishes to earn academic credit for community service or volunteer service under this chapter, the student, a teacher of the student, or a community or volunteer service organization must submit an application that includes the following information to the principal or the principal’s designee of the high school in which the student is enrolled:

• (1) The name of the community service organization or volunteer service organization the student intends to assist.
• (2) The name, address, and telephone number of the director or the supervisor of the community service organization or volunteer service organization and, if different from the director or supervisor, the name, address, and telephone number of the individual assigned by the community or volunteer service organization to supervise the student at the activity site.
• (3) The nature of the community service or volunteer service performed by the student with a certification that the service performed by the student is voluntary.
• (4) The total number of hours the student intends to serve the community service organization or volunteer service organization during the school year.
• (5) A written statement by the director or the supervisor of the community service organization or volunteer service organization certifying that the information included in the application is an accurate reflection of:
• (A) the student’s expectations with regard to the number of hours of service contemplated to be performed; and
• (B) the community service organization’s or the volunteer service organization’s need to acquire the student’s service.
• (6) A description of:
• (A) the educational or career exploration benefits the student and the school should expect to gain from the student’s community or volunteer service participation; and
• (B) the service and benefit the community or volunteer service organization expects to gain from the student’s participation.
• (7) A description of how the community or volunteer service activity relates to a course in which the student is enrolled or intends to enroll.
• (8) The manner and frequency in which the student and the community or volunteer service activity will be evaluated.
• (9) The name of the certificated school employee who will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating the student’s activity and performance, including assigning to the student a grade for participation under this section.
• (10) Any other information required by the principal.

For each school year in which a student wishes to earn academic credit under this chapter, the student must submit the application to participate under this chapter before November 1 of the school year. The principal may waive this application deadline if the principal determines that:

• (1) the student was unable to meet the application deadline due to extraordinary circumstances; and
• (2) the student will reasonably be able to accrue before graduation at least the minimum number of hours of service required to acquire at least one (1) academic credit toward the student’s graduation requirements.

Upon receipt of the application, the principal or the principal’s designee shall determine whether the student is eligible to receive academic credit under this section based on the guidelines established by the department under section 8 [IC 20-30-14-8] of this chapter and rules adopted by the state board under section 9 [IC 20-30-14-9] of this chapter.

The principal or the principal’s designee shall notify the student and the director or the sponsor of the community service organization or the volunteer service organization of the determination made under section 4 [IC 20-30-14-4] of this chapter. If the student’s application is approved, the director or sponsor of the community service organization or the volunteer service organization shall periodically report to the principal or the principal’s designee on the student’s fulfillment of the expectations included in the application.

Upon the completion of the school year, the principal or the principal’s designee shall request the director or the sponsor of the community service organization or the volunteer service organization to submit a report on the student’s service during the school year that certifies the total number of hours of service contributed by the student.

If the student’s total number of hours of service is at least equal to the minimum number of hours required to earn academic credit for community service or volunteer service as set forth in rules adopted by the state board, the student shall receive the amount of academic credit available under the state board’s rules for the service toward the student’s graduation requirements.

The department shall develop guidelines necessary to implement this section, including guidelines to assist principals or designees in determining whether a particular community service organization or volunteer service organization qualifies as an entity in which a student’s volunteer service translates into academic credit under this section.

The state board shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 necessary to implement this section, including rules stipulating the following:

• (1) The types of community service organizations or volunteer service organizations that qualify as entities described in section 8 [IC 20-30-14-8] of this chapter.
• (2) The types of community services or volunteer services performed by a student that qualify for approval under this chapter.
• (3) That the student must perform at least forty-eight (48) hours of service to earn one (1) academic credit.
• (4) That not more than two (2) academic credits toward graduation are available to a student under this chapter.
• (5) That the exploitation or endangerment of students participating under this chapter is prohibited.
• (6) That each school corporation and community service organization or volunteer service organization participating under this chapter shall monitor student activity under this chapter and compile periodic reports from students and other individuals to ensure:
• (A) student health and safety, including assurances that students are not expected to perform duties that are prohibited by law or rule for which students are inadequately prepared or supervised;
• (B) an educational benefit to the student is being derived by the student; and
• (C) compliance with appropriate statutes and rules.
• (7) The minimum acceptable level of certificated school employee staffing required to adequately implement, monitor, and evaluate the program under this chapter.
• (8) The method for demonstrating and enforcing the assurances described under subdivision (6).