Wisconsin's Service-Learning Program Grants

High quality service-learning practice does not happen by accident, nor does it happen in isolation. Wisconsin takes a systems approach to the process, grounding implementation solidly in the K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice.

Over the next three years, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (WDPI) will leverage funding to develop the necessary support and infrastructure to result in sustainable, high quality service-learning practice in teaching STEM and creativity concepts and skills.

The following components will impact retention and graduation rates and have the potential to reach every student in the state:

1. Funding that specifically addresses support for ongoing professional development and teacher mentoring. A cascade model of professional development will provide ongoing skill development, exemplar curricular models, mentoring, and implementation that fosters continuous improvement. This work will be grounded in the STEM disciplines, focusing on utilizing service-learning as a core instructional methodology to teach 21st century skills across the curriculum.
2. An emphasis on increased support and policy development to advance service-learning.
3. Funding for districts to institutionalize service-learning throughout the educational experience. Leadership institutes will be provided that assist districts in simultaneously adopting the five critical components for institutionalization: Vision and leadership; curriculum and assessment; community-school partnerships; professional development; and continuous improvement.

DPI Administers Service-Learning Grants
Each year the DPI receives a Learn and Serve America (LSA) grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service to support school-based service-learning programs. The current focus of the Learn and Serve grant is to support ongoing professional development and establish an infrastructure to nurture the practice of high quality service-learning as an instructional methodology in teaching STEM and creativity concepts and skills.

Grant awards of up to $20,000 to local education agency partnerships or a consortium of LEAs to support the implementation and institutionalization of programs that advance service-learning as an effective pedagogy in teaching STEM and creativity. This year, $118,172 is available to support applications to create a lasting service-learning culture in Wisconsin schools.

The 2009-10 RFP is available as a pdf. A fill-enabled application form MS Word Document is also available.

Deadline for proposals is June 15, 2009 with grant awards to be announced no later than August 31, 2009.

See http://dpi.wi.gov/fscp/sllsapg.html for more information and to apply.