Mission

The GSN is a community of schools with staff passionate about service-learning. They join together to learn from others and improve their own service-learning practice.

Through the GSN, educators are able to connect with other schools and experts in the field that share a common set of ideals. Members of the GSN are able to access exclusive resources created both by NYLC and the larger service-learning community. These resources are tied closely with the K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice and the Service-Learning Cycle for a unique approach to professional development.

Shared Ideals

By joining the GSN, schools are making a commitment to several ideals. These ideals reflect a school wide desire to achieve high-quality service-learning practice. Schools that join the GSN are committed to:

• Building and maintaining high-quality service-learning practices.
• Engaging students as vital community resources and leaders.
• Providing professional development and leadership opportunities for staff.
• Connecting school curriculum with standards for high-quality service-learning.
• Serving as resources to other schools that want to improve their service-learning practices.

Guiding Principles

Members of the GSN also share a common set of principles. These principles are the core beliefs of the GSN and are reflected in the resources available to its members. The GSN is dedicated to these principles:

• Young people are community assets, willing contributors, and effective leaders.
• Instructional leadership in service-learning fosters excellent student performance.
• Engaged learning experiences result in meaningful academics, which in turn increase student responsibility, civic engagement, and leadership.
• Professional development based on the K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice encourages staff growth in service-learning and collaboration based on best practices.
• Building partnerships among schools, community professionals, nonprofits, businesses, and other community resources enhances student success.
• Becoming part of a national learning community dedicated to sharing service-learning experiences with other schools is an important way to provide students with meaningful learning experiences.