Why:
The Dundee Central School Board of Education recognizes that the classroom alone cannot fully educate the whole child and that good citizenship encompasses a larger community than just that of the school. It is the goal of the Board to establish outside, diversified educational experiences for students to broaden their horizons, develop empathy, character building and selflessness by establishing a service experience program requirement that encourages positive citizenship, proactive assistance, and meaningful connections to enrich the lives of others.

Therefore, the Board of Education directs the Superintendent to develop a partnership and program with County agencies and/or District non-profit organizations to actualize a service experience for all students in grades 7 - 12. For purposes of this policy, a service experience is defined as productive assistance given to an organization or individual that adds intrinsic or extrinsic value, is done without paid remuneration, and is performed outside of the regular school day unless it is an organized experience addressed/initiated by the superintendent to benefit the community or select segments of the school population. Content will vary depending on the site.

Exceptions:
1. High School transfer students will be required to earn, by the end of the senior year, a minimum of three (3) hours per year reflecting their entry date in the District with local credit being similarly adjusted.
2. Community service assigned as a result of a legal action does not qualify as a service experience for graduation purposes.

How:
This program is to be phased in over the course of a student’s junior/high school career, culminating in a minimum of 20 hours of service in order to graduate and earn the locally required quarter credit of study, the quarter credit will be added at the end of the student’s senior year. A minimum of three (3) hours should be completed each year; however, students may finish the requirement early.