The creation of an informed and active citizenry has always been a primary goal of America's schools. Given the challenges we face as a Nation, educating our young people to be knowledgeable, skillful, and engaged citizens of a free society has never been more important. By serving something greater than themselves America's young people can help meet vital community needs while learning to become responsible and engaged citizens in our democratic society.

Educators in America's K-12 schools and in its colleges and universities have long encouraged students to participate in volunteer service in many forms. They have supported individual volunteer activities, service projects organized by student groups and faculty members, and formal service projects that link to academic lessons – the practice known as service-learning.

The Learn and Serve America program at the Corporation for National and Community Service supports service-learning activities in thousands of K-12 schools and on college and university campuses around the country through grants and other resources, including the National Service Learning Clearinghouse.

The USA Freedom Corps is working with the Learn and Serve America program, the Department of Education, other USA Freedom Corps coordinating council member agencies, and nonprofit organizations to create resources that will enable America's schools to do more to help our young people develop habits of service that will last a lifetime. The Students in Service to America initiative is an outgrowth of that effort, and we have included links to that and other resources for educators below.

K-12 Education

• The new Students in Service to America guide and materials are a resource for K-12 educators to use to engage young people in service through their school activities.
• Educators can also access some of the treasures of the National Archives and Records Administration to teach their students about our rights and responsibilities as Americans through Our Documents.
• Through a variety of federal agencies the USA Freedom Corps is supporting other efforts to help teach America's students about our history of service, including the We the People initiative.

Colleges and Universities

• Colleges and universities can use Campus Compact, a national coalition of approximately 850 college and university presidents committed to the civic purposes of higher education, to find publications, program models, grants, awards, research, and other service and service-learning resources.