CAPE MAY COUNTY TECHNICAL SCHOOL RECEIVES WHITE HOUSE RECOGNITION
FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE-LEARNING

(WASHINGTON, D.C.)-- Cape May County Technical School in Cape May Court House, New Jersey was named today as a National Service-Learning Leader School through a new presidential initiative that recognizes schools for their excellence in service-learning. Service-learning combines academics with community service in a way that benefits students, teaches civic responsibility, and strengthens communities. As part of their award, schools are asked to lead other schools in starting or improving their service-learning programs.

"These schools are models of what is working in education. They are on the cutting edge of a growing service-learning movement and their experience and success will serve as examples to others," said Harris Wofford, CEO of the Corporation for National Service, which administers the award program.

Through service-learning, students apply their coursework to community issues in relevant and meaningful ways. For example, chemistry students might test water quality in a local stream and report findings to local community leaders, geometry students might plan and construct an inner-city playground, English students might tutor younger children in reading, and government students might survey community residents on the area's traffic safety needs and propose changes to local ordinances.

A recent study by Brandeis University indicates that students who participate in service-learning are more engaged in learning and perform better in school than students who do not. Further, service-learning students enjoy helping others and learning in the process.

Representatives from each Leader School will be invited to Washington, D.C., next month for an award ceremony, a congressional reception, and educational workshops. Next year, middI6 schools will be recognized as National Service-Learning Leader Schools. For more information, call 800-628-8442.

The National Service-Learning Leader Schools program is administered by the Corporation for National Service, which provides Americans of all ages with opportunities to improve communities through programs such as AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America, and the National Senior Service Corps. Learn and Serve America supports service-learning programs in schools, colleges, and community organizations through which nearly one million students each year from kindergarten through college meet community needs while improving their academic skills and learning the habits of good citizenship.