The Ballard Service Learning Program Information

One of the graduation requirements for the SPS District is 60 hours of service learning. Service learning is giving time, without pay, or earning credit. Service learning allows students to learn and apply academic, social and personal skills through real hands on activities. Students make a difference and address authentic community needs.

As part of service learning, students are asked to reflect and report on their experiences. Summer hours that your student completes that meet the service-learning requirement can be counted toward the 60-hour graduation requirement, except for incoming freshmen who can claim only 15 service learning hours in the summer before they start at Ballard HS. Service learning forms are on the Service Learning page. Once students have met the 60-hour service learning requirement, this appears on their transcript as “service learning completed “P”.

How do you complete the district’s service learning form?

• Each student fills out the student information and organization information section.
• Take the form to your supervisor to complete the verifying information section. You can attach letters or certificates from your organization or a printout of your hours with a supervisor’s signature in place of getting them to sign the documentation form. Staple the alternate documentation onto the school’s form and write “see attached” on the line where your supervisor would usually sign.
• When your hours are entered in PowerSchool, staff will sign the teacher signature line on the bottom of the page.
• Complete the reflection questions on the second page of the documentation form at least once per organization. In the reflections, students write about what they observed, felt, and learned, and any other thoughts about their service learning activities.
• Turn completed forms in to the counseling office or the main office. The service learning graduation requirement is not met until the completed paperwork is submitted.
• All documentation needs to be signed by an adult who is not related to the student and the reflection questions on the back must be completed. Peers cannot sign the time log.

When should the Graduation Required 60 Service Learning hours be done?

It is best to work on the service learning hours steadily throughout high school. Students can choose to do them in the summer, during the school year, or some of each. Once you find an organization or two that matches your interests, continue to work with them on an ongoing basis, if possible. Although it is not to their advantage, many students end up finishing their service learning hours during their senior year. They are busy making decisions about their future that year, and, if they haven’t finished their hours, they also miss out on the chance of including all their service learning activities on their résumés. It is much better to complete the service learning requirement before the fall of their senior year. Completed documentation forms can be turned in anytime while the student is in high school; the hours don’t expire. The final deadline for when hours can be turned in is May of a student’s senior year.

What is the Above and Beyond Service Learning Award?

Students who want to earn the Above and Beyond Service Learning Award need to document at least 240 service learning hours—four times the 60 service learning hours required for graduation. To receive the award, students simply turn in their documentation for 240 hours to the counseling or main office. They will get their medallion for the Above and Beyond Service Learning Award at the Senior Awards Night. Hours beyond the required 60 do not appear on The Source. To keep track of service hours beyond 60, visit Ms. Bristol in the counseling office. You can contact her at chbristol@seattleschools.org, or 206-252-1014.

Are there any circumstances that change the service learning requirement?

If students transfer into the Seattle School District part way through their high school career, the service learning hours are prorated. Fifteen hours are subtracted for each year out of district. For example, a student that comes in from out of district at the beginning of their junior year would only need to do 30 service learning hours.

Students with an IEP should check with their IEP teacher about how many hours of service learning will be required for them. This is handled through their IEP teacher.

Visit the district Service Learning for more information.