Community Service Learning
Class of 2027 Graduation Requirement
Students in the Class of 2027 and beyond are now required to complete community service to earn a high school diploma in Arkansas (Act 237 of 2023, pages 38-39). The law includes that students will earn 15 hours of community service in 9th grade, and 20 hours of community service in each of the years for grades 10, 11, and 12 to equal 75 hours of service required for graduation. Students will get more information in presentations at school.
Parent Information Events
Webinar Recording
Student & Parent Information Slides with links to forms
October 19, 2023 at 5pm at BHS and 7pm at BWHS in lecture halls at PTC
January 9, 2024 at BWHS - at Parent University in BWHS lecture hall at 7pm
January 11, 2024 at BHS - at Parent University in BHS lecture hall at 7pm
February 22, 2024 at 5pm at BWHS and 7pm at BHS in lecture halls at PTC
April 16, 2024 at 5pm at BHS and 7pm at BWHS in lecture halls at PTC
Students Get Started
Service opportunities on our K-8 campuses will be advertised to you in your HS Student Announcements. Please do not call the K-8 campuses and teacher directly. Service opportunities in the community are listed on many organization websites and we are sharing our tips in our information sessions and our slides and video linked above. Above all, start keeping a log of your service. The template log spreadsheet is in our slide show links.
Documentation Form to submit batches of hours.
Students should only submit this form once per year.
Freshmen should only use this form to submit a batch for 15 hours, 35 hours, 55 hours, or 75 hours.
Class of 2024, 2025, or 2026 students should only submit this form once with a full 75 hour batch if they choose to participate.
Sophomores (Class of 2027 and beyond) should only use this form to submit a batch for 20 hours, 40 hours, or 60 hours.
Juniors (Class of 2027 and beyond) should only submit this form for a batch of 20 hours or 40 hours.
Seniors (Class of 2027 and beyond) should only submit this form for a batch of 20 hours or 75 hours.
Log for a student to keep up with hours as they work.
Also see these links on slide 6 of the training linked above.
Definitions
Direct Service - students have direct contact with those they service (tutoring, serving meals, visiting, providing care, etc.).
Indirect Service - students perform a service without face-to-face contact with the recipient (working at a food or clothing drive, making a product like a blanket or doll for use elsewhere, and fundraising).
Advocacy - students educate others about a particular issue (writing letters to law makers, displaying posters to target audiences, etc.).
Potential Partner Agencies
Community service agencies can register with us. See the webinar linked above for details, and/or contact our office for more information. We may use this registry list to contact you for opportunities and updates. See the webinar linked above for information or call 479-254-5008.
We will not be adding to the state’s list at this time. The state board of education no longer has to approve sites (Act 720 of 2023) and the COM-24-021 8/30/23 states that, “in cases where a community service project is not approved by the local board or organized by the district, the decision for approval lies with the school's volunteer coordinator or administration.” We will support parents in their option to lead, guide, and vet their student's service within appropriate safety protocols.
Contact
Dr. Jennifer Morrow, Executive Director of Secondary Education
479-254-5008
Sarah DeWitt, Assistant Principal at BWHS
Dr. Marleah Purdy, Assistant Principal at BHS