BENTONVILLE -- The School District is awaiting approval of its plan to offer high school students the chance to earn one service-learning credit upon completing at least 75 hours of service to a community organization.
A state law that took effect in 1996 allowed schools to award students the service-learning credit. This year, the state began awarding schools points for the service-learning credit code as part of their annual report cards.
Bentonville schools did not earn any points for the service-learning credit on its report cards this year, said Jennifer Morrow, director of secondary education, who presented the topic at Monday's School Board meeting.
In order for a student to qualify for the credit, either a school employee must be present to witness the student's work, or the agency for which the student works must be on a list approved by both the local school board and the state Board of Education.
Students may not log hours until the state approves the district's plan for its service-learning program.
Ideally, the service students do for the credit will entail more than just volunteering. Students should also benefit by getting some practical experience and they should be able to connect the work to academic standards, Morrow said.
Under the district's plan, a campus review team will meet each semester to consider student records submitted in application for the service-learning credit.
The student's application will involve explaining what they did, where they did it, what part of their curriculum they are connecting their work to, and their "reflection" on the work, Morrow said.
Joe Quinn, a board member, said it seems like a lot of administrative work to keep track of it all.
"This seems so far removed from our core mission as educators," Quinn said. "It seems time-consuming and complex and expensive and I just get a little fuzzy on why the state keeps having us go down roads like this."
Debbie Jones, superintendent, said it's a good way for the district to encourage students to get involved in their community.
"You'll see many high schools now that require some community service before (students) graduate," Jones said. "It's a good thing to teach kids to serve their community."
Schools have long complained about being judged only on their students' test scores. The service-learning credit is a way for schools to demonstrate other ways they are doing good things, she said.
The board will be asked at its next meeting on June 18 to approve nonprofit organizations for which students may volunteer and earn the service-learning credit.
Morrow presented an initial list of those organizations Monday: Brightwater: A Center for the Study of Food, Second Street Pantry Missions, Habitat for Humanity of Benton County, Bike NWA, Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Benton County, the Bentonville Public Library, Scott Family Amazeum, Play with Passion, Children's Advocacy Center of Benton County and Horses for Healing.
It's a "weird thing" for the state to ask the local school boards to approve community organizations in this way, said board member Rebecca Powers.
Eric White, board vice president, asked board members to communicate individually with Jones before the board's next meeting with any concerns they have about any of the organizations.
Quinn agreed, saying it's not the board's business to debate the merits of those agencies in public.
NW News on 06/05/2018