The Elk Grove Unified School District (EGUSD) is located in suburban southern Sacramento County, with some schools in the City of Elk Grove and others in an unincorporated part of the county. Approximately one-third of the district’s schools are classified as Title 1.
Although service-learning is not a district graduation requirement, the school board does support related projects as a way to teach academic standards and foster civic education. The district has identified new partners and community needs to help diversify the program across content areas. The EGUSD employs a communication network to ensure that teachers, the administration, community partners, and the general community can access information about community needs, about how to develop high-quality service-learning projects, and about the district’s service-learning activities. The network facilitates the information that flows between the program coordinator, the advisory board, the community, partners, teachers, and students. Its key elements are a service-learning Web site and a contact teacher identified at each site. The district’s goals are to engage more teachers and students in service-learning activities and to generate more publicity for the program.
The service-learning projects at Franklin, Elk Grove, and Calvine High Schools focus on environmental studies. The projects involve habitat restoration, biomass studies, the growth of grazing plants for the Sacramento Zoo, water-quality studies at Strawberry and Laguna Creeks, and the training of high school mentors to conduct a Marsh Madness for elementary school students. A partnership with the Elk Grove and Galt Historical Societies provides the basis for expansion of the Preserving Local Culture program, a historical study project. Student participation in Project Citizen continues to promote civic education through activities that address public policy and community needs. A Civic Mission of Schools grant enables students at Sheldon High School to operate an election process that mirrors the national elections to promote civic responsibility. Additional projects include a career fair, building a shed for kindergarten equipment, garden projects, and children’s books that are written as a summative assessment for narrative writing.
The Laguna Creek Watershed Council facilitates students’ habitat restoration and water-quality testing projects at local creeks and storm drains. The California Waterfowl Association has trained high school students as docents in the Marsh Madness wetlands study program, which is held at the Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. The Florin Resource Conservation District funds teacher trainings in the Adopt-A-Watershed program and sponsors a team of high school students to complete the state Envirothon and Range Camp. The Cosumnes River Preserve supports field work and professional development at the McFarland Living History Ranch and the Preserve. Additional partners include the City of Elk Grove and the Center for Civic Education.
The EGUSD Advisory Board meets quarterly and reviews all funding requests to ensure a high-quality service-learning program.
Visit the EGUSD Web site (Outside Source).
