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Student Service Learning

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) requires that all graduating students seeking a high school diploma complete 75 service learning hours.  

Students and families are encouraged to read the Service Learning Guidelines in order to gain a better understanding of how the BCPS service-learning program is implemented and what requirements are needed to complete independent hours.  BCPS students can begin earning hours in middle school, specifically the summer before 6th grade. To further support the requirement, BCPS infuses service learning opportunities within specific courses throughout their secondary career. However, it is important for students to participate in Independent service learning opportunities beyond the infused hours.  

If at any time you have questions about the service-Learning process, please reach out to your school's Service-Learning Coordinator.

 

rvice-Learning?

Service-Learning is a teaching method that combines meaningful service to the community with curriculum-based learning. Students improve their academic skills by applying what they learn in school to the real world; they then reflect on their experience to reinforce the link between their service and their learning. -- Learning in Deed

Contact Information:
Nora Murray, Project Specialist
443-809-4329

Additional materials for staff are available at our intranet.

Resources for Families and Students

Service Learning Guidelines and approval forms have been updated for the 2025-2026 school year.

How many hours does my student have?



FOCUS Access Imiage

Parents/Caregivers can view their child's student service-learning hours in FOCUS.
Report cards will only show "Met' or "Not Met" so it's important to stay informed!

Viewing Student Service Learning Hours In Focus

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If you have not yet created a parent account in Focus, please see instructions below:

Creating a Parent Account in Focus (Instructions)

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Service-Learning Requirements

Service-Learning is often confused with volunteering or community service.  While both activities are defined as forms of service within a community, they do not necessarily include a structured educational connection for participants, which is a foundation of all service-learning projects. Students are encouraged to speak with their school service-learning coordinator to discuss if a volunteer or other service activity can be developed into a service-learning project by incorporating a structured educational component. 


Completing the Requirement:

Students may begin earning service-learning hours in the summer before they enter grade 6. Students can earn hours through required curriculum projects, school-wide projects, or independent service projects. Each school has a service-learning coordinator to assist students. Earned hours are designated as either Infused or Independent. 

Infused Hours:
Students may earn INFUSED hours for completing service projects that are required parts of the courses listed below. Enrollment in the class doesn't automatically earn the student hours. Students MUST complete the SL project in order to earn hours. 

Middle School Courses

Art 7
English 6
Business & Computer Science 6, 7
Health 6, 8
Science 8
Social Studies 8 
Technology Education 6, 7

High School Courses

American Government 9
Earth Systems 9 
English 9
Technology Education 9 
Independent Hours:
Students may also work on projects in school clubs, class projects (outside of infused lessons), and outside of the school day. Approved public agencies must be a non-profit organization and the service act must meet the MSDE requirements. This includes direct service, indirect service, or advocacy.

Students are required to review the Independent Service Learning Approval Form, complete sections 1 - 4 prior to their activity and submit to their service learning coordinator or counselor to make sure the activity meets MSDE requirements. After the service activity has been completed, the student and site supervisor will complete sections 5-6 and return the form to the service learning coordinator to have the hours recorded. All hours must be submitted within one year of completion. 
See the Service Learning Guidelines for more information on required paperwork and approved activities. 


 

Components of a Service-Learning Project

Service Learning Components


PREPARATION is the first step of service-learning in which students work with teachers and community members to:

  • Identify issues affecting the community in areas related to health, education, environment, or public safety.
  • Select project site(s) and how to address a selected issue. Service must be completed with a non-profit agency.
  • Plan service-learning reflection.
  • Explore the concept of active citizenship.
To Do clipartTo do clip artStudents must prepare for their service-learning activity by completing sections 1-3 of the NEW Independent Service-Learning Approval Form. This form will need to be submitted to the school counselor or SL coordinator BEFORE service is completed. The school counselor or SL coordinator will need to make sure the activity follows the service learning guidelines set forth by MSDE. More information can be found in our Service-Learning Standards & Guidelines. Once the pre-approval is complete the student will receive the form back to complete the next steps.





ACTION is the next step of service-learning in which students carry out their service through one of the following:

  • Direct Service – Students have face-to-face contact with service recipients.  Examples include tutoring other students, serving meals at a homeless shelter, working with the elderly in a senior citizen community, etc.
  • Indirect Service – Students perform a service without having direct contact with the recipient.  Usually, resources are channeled to help alleviate a problem.  Examples include food and clothing drives, environmental projects, raising money for a cause through activities such as a walk-a-thon, etc…
  • Advocacy – Students educate others about a selected issue with the goal of eliminating the causes of a particular problem.  Examples include writing letters to legislators or newspaper editors, creating web pages, creating and displaying posters within the community, writing and performing informative plays, creating educational materials for other target groups, legislative testimony, etc.
To do clip artDuring the action stage of service, we recommend that student keep a log of their hours and activities. While this log will not be submitted to BCPS, it's important to make sure the service site manager and the student can agree on the number of hours completed. Also, keeping a log of activities can be helpful for reflection. The student will need the site manager to sign section 5 of the NEW Independent Service-Learning Approval Form in order to confirm the number of hours completed.





REFLECTION is the final step of service-learning in which students look back upon the completed project and review what they have learned.  Reflection may be done individually (journals, scrapbooks, teacher-student meetings) or as a group (class evaluation of the project based on the goals and outcomes).

to do clip artStudents must complete section 6 of the NEW Independent Service Learning Approval Form and submit to the school counselor or SL coordinator in order for hours to be recorded in Focus.  If the student chooses to prepare their reflection in a journal or scrapbook, it must be submitted along with the form. The guiding questions should be used to prepare the reflection. 

Searching for Independent Project Opportunities

 

The Office of Family and Community Engagement and the Baltimore County Volunteer Program have worked together to create a virtual portal of BCPS-approved,  non-profit, service learning partners for students who are seeking independent service opportunities.

Students and families can visit the online Baltimore County Volunteer Center to view a list of approved Student Service Learning Agencies. This link can be found at the bottom of the Volunteer Center homepage. Students are responsible for contacting the agencies for information and must complete the required BCPS paperwork for hours to be recorded. 

                                                                         Balt Co Volunteer Center

Please note that student participation with these agencies is at the discretion of the student's parent/guardian and the activities must be completed outside of school hours. The agency is responsible for maintaining student safety. Parents/guardians should contact the agency directly with questions and/or concerns.

Baltimore County Public Library - Be Involved!

 

BCPL Be Involved Logo


BCPS has partnered with BCPL to offer a program that engages students in service learning, fitting seamlessly into their busy schedules. The program, called Be Involved, offers pre-approved projects that students can join with no application or long-term commitment.

Be Involved features a drop-in style format and students can participate at any local BCPL branch. Programs last at least one hour in length, and involve each component of service-learning, preparation, action, and reflection. All materials are provided. 

Each Be Involved offering features a slightly different service-learning project, but all focus on the impacts that libraries and individuals can have on their communities. At the start of the program, the hosting librarian will provide a brief overview of the public library's function, then introduce the external partner (if applicable) and the project. The bulk of the time spent will be focused on the project action, whether it be beautifying an outdoor space, assembling donation kits, or engaging in advocacy work. At the end of the program, participants reflect individually and/or as a group on the impact of their work.

Some examples of Be Involved programs are:

 - Be Involved: Community Clean Up: Participants learn about environmental wellness and responsible consumerism, then participate in a clean up of the library’s outdoor spaces. 

 - Be Involved: Pet Toys: Participants learn about animal shelters and fostering, then assemble DIY pet toys for donation to a local shelter. 

 - Be Involved: Period Poverty: Participants learn about the barriers to providing free menstrual products in the library, then assemble Period Care Kits for library patrons. In this way, teens also advocate for period care in the library.

Visit bcpl.info  to find out what your local branch has to offer!


Become a BCPS Student Service Learning Community Partner


Are you a non-profit agency interested in engaging with students to offer service learning hours? We have an opportunity for you! 

Baltimore County Public Schools and the Baltimore County Volunteer Center have teamed up to offer students a virtual portal to locate service learning opportunities from non-profit agencies across the greater Baltimore region. Non-profit agencies will need to register with the BC Volunteer Center and attend a BCPS SSL Community Partner Training session to be designated as a BCPS service learning partner on the portal. 

  

Please contact our office for information on attending a training session.


Safe at Home Independent SL Projects

With COVID-19 restrictions being lifted throughout the county, we understand that some students may choose to participate in home-based independent projects. We have listed a few ideas below. Please reach out to your school counselor or SL coordinator for other project ideas.

Some suggest SAH Independent Projects:

Have other ideas? Feel free to email your school counselor or SL coordinator for approval. As a reminder, all independent projects will need pre-approval before you begin earning hours.


If additional information is needed, please contact:

Office of Family & Community Engagement

Stacey Wade
Program Specialist
[email protected]
443-809-4496

Staff resources can be found in our Service Learning Coordinator Schoology Group. Please email for access.

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