About this initiative

The Service in Schools Initiative, a partnership between NYC Service and the NYC Department of Education, requires every principal in NYC’s over 1500 public schools to create a comprehensive plan at the beginning of the school year to promote service in their schools, and will result in a range of new services and supports to transform school communities and individual students’ lives through service.

Service in Schools seeks to expand the number of NYC students engaged in transformative community service and service-learning experiences that enable them to use their voice, skills, and critical thinking to strengthen communities.

This initiative was first launched during the 2009-2010 school year. During that year, 400,800 students participated in over 1,700 projects in areas such as the environment, public health and hunger. During the 2010–2011 school year, 572,229 students performed 7,874 projects throughout all five boroughs.

Basic program details for school year 2012-2013:

• Integrates service, service learning and civic responsibility into every New York City public school
• At least one service project will occur throughout the course of the 2012-2013 academic year at all NYC public schools
• Offers schools a menu of service offerings that range from light touch service projects to whole-school service-learning integration
• Schools receive technical assistance and support from NYC Civic Corps members, as well as service organizations throughout NYC