What Types of Projects "Count?"
***Clay Schools follow the Bright Futures guidelines for acceptable service projects.***
Most projects count, although some may not qualify. Use the checklist below and then read the list below to see if your project will qualify. Be sure to have your teacher sign off on your Service Learning Plan before you begin as you can only count hours after the form has been signed.
Your project will not count if...
1. There will be no adult supervisor present.
2. You are related to your supervisor. (Although we do encourage families to join our students as they complete their projects.)
3. Your work is done with a for-profit organization (i.e. restaurant or dance studio)
4. You are working with an individual or family. (i.e. baby-sitting or cutting the grass)
5. Your work through a religious or political organization (i.e. church) benefits only that religious or political community and not the entire community. (see #14 below)
Need more detail? See below or talk to your teacher.
--------------
"What Counts, What Doesn't" (credit: Duval Schools)
1. Service may be volunteered to the school and/or the community.
2. Students must perform volunteer services on their own time, which can include the participant's lunch break. Study hall time may be included for peer counseling activities or service to the school, e.g., office aide. Participation in performances, festivals, or competitions during the school day may count if this meets the criteria under #4 and participating students are given permission by the principal to be absent from class.
3. Participation in performances, festivals or competitions counts if the following apply:
a. Volunteer service meets an identified community service need, and
b. There is no admission charge accepted for the performance, and
c. Student participation is of voluntary nature, and
d. The performance does not promote the sponsoring organization, and
e. Neither the student organization nor the sponsoring organization receives payment for the performance. If participation meets the above criteria, then partial rehearsal time may be counted. Performing hours may be matched with the same number of rehearsal hours. For example, a chorus member performs 1 hour at a nursing home and is given 2 hours of credit (1 hour for the performance and 1 hour for rehearsal).
4. Students may not be paid for service rendered.
5. Volunteer service involving academic requirements for a class will count.
6. Service rendered as a prerequisite for employment will not count.
7. Attendance at self-improvement workshops or conferences will not count as service.
8. Fundraising for non-profit organizations or charities will count.
9. Service may not be performed for a student's family or for a profit-making organization, except for institutions like hospitals or the human society.
10. Service performed as a result of disciplinary action taken by the school or courts cannot count.
11. Volunteer work for the purpose of promoting a particular religious or political point of view or person cannot count as volunteer hours in this program. For example, if your church youth group helps with the Special Olympics, those hours would count, but not time spent distributing flyers advertising a church revival.
12. Participation in athletics and regularly scheduled band and chorus performances does not constitute volunteer service under this program.
13. The above criteria will not cover all circumstances. If a question exists regarding the acceptance of an activity for volunteer service, the student's teacher should approve the service prior to the student’s participation.
14. Some common activities, which do not count, include: acolyte, altar server, lay reader, vacation Bible School, babysitting, working in church nursery, church choir and clerical work for religious, political, or profit making organizations.
Most projects count, although some may not qualify. Use the checklist below and then read the list below to see if your project will qualify. Be sure to have your teacher sign off on your Service Learning Plan before you begin as you can only count hours after the form has been signed.
Your project will not count if...
1. There will be no adult supervisor present.
2. You are related to your supervisor. (Although we do encourage families to join our students as they complete their projects.)
3. Your work is done with a for-profit organization (i.e. restaurant or dance studio)
4. You are working with an individual or family. (i.e. baby-sitting or cutting the grass)
5. Your work through a religious or political organization (i.e. church) benefits only that religious or political community and not the entire community. (see #14 below)
Need more detail? See below or talk to your teacher.
--------------
"What Counts, What Doesn't" (credit: Duval Schools)
1. Service may be volunteered to the school and/or the community.
2. Students must perform volunteer services on their own time, which can include the participant's lunch break. Study hall time may be included for peer counseling activities or service to the school, e.g., office aide. Participation in performances, festivals, or competitions during the school day may count if this meets the criteria under #4 and participating students are given permission by the principal to be absent from class.
3. Participation in performances, festivals or competitions counts if the following apply:
a. Volunteer service meets an identified community service need, and
b. There is no admission charge accepted for the performance, and
c. Student participation is of voluntary nature, and
d. The performance does not promote the sponsoring organization, and
e. Neither the student organization nor the sponsoring organization receives payment for the performance. If participation meets the above criteria, then partial rehearsal time may be counted. Performing hours may be matched with the same number of rehearsal hours. For example, a chorus member performs 1 hour at a nursing home and is given 2 hours of credit (1 hour for the performance and 1 hour for rehearsal).
4. Students may not be paid for service rendered.
5. Volunteer service involving academic requirements for a class will count.
6. Service rendered as a prerequisite for employment will not count.
7. Attendance at self-improvement workshops or conferences will not count as service.
8. Fundraising for non-profit organizations or charities will count.
9. Service may not be performed for a student's family or for a profit-making organization, except for institutions like hospitals or the human society.
10. Service performed as a result of disciplinary action taken by the school or courts cannot count.
11. Volunteer work for the purpose of promoting a particular religious or political point of view or person cannot count as volunteer hours in this program. For example, if your church youth group helps with the Special Olympics, those hours would count, but not time spent distributing flyers advertising a church revival.
12. Participation in athletics and regularly scheduled band and chorus performances does not constitute volunteer service under this program.
13. The above criteria will not cover all circumstances. If a question exists regarding the acceptance of an activity for volunteer service, the student's teacher should approve the service prior to the student’s participation.
14. Some common activities, which do not count, include: acolyte, altar server, lay reader, vacation Bible School, babysitting, working in church nursery, church choir and clerical work for religious, political, or profit making organizations.