What Is a Community Service Project?
Community service projects are planned, organized, and voluntary efforts designed to address a problem or need in the community. To be meaningful, community service projects must address a real need or problem found within the school or community. The community service project you choose to do should also reflect your personal interest and skills. In addition, worthwhile community service projects require an on-going commitment on your part.

What Are the Community Service Graduation Requirements?
To complete the community service graduation requirement for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, you must complete a community service project between 9th and 12th grade. A minimum of 100 hours of service is required to be eligible to receive a Ferguson Academy Completion certificate. The State of Florida requires a minimum number of service hours to be eligible for the Florida Bright Futures scholarship awards. For International Baccalaureate (IB) students, community service hours required for graduation and CAS are documented separately and IB students should check with their Lead Teacher for procedural information.

What Types of Projects Meet the Requirement for Graduation?
You may do any of a variety of projects in order to meet the graduation requirement. You can spend time with senior citizens in convalescent homes, tutor elementary students, work in a homeless shelter - and more! You may complete your project at a school or in the community. You may work as an individual and/or you may work in a group. Below is a brief description of the types of projects that are acceptable.
• School-Site Service Projects
School-site service is an excellent way of meeting the requirement for community service while
also helping meet the special needs of a school. If you choose to complete a school-site project,
you should commit to providing on-going support and assistance to the school.
• Group Community Service Projects
Group community service projects provide excellent opportunities for you to complete your community service requirement while also helping meet the special needs of an individual neighborhood or community. Group community service projects provide excellent service opportunities for organized student groups such as service clubs, honor societies, and athletic teams. Membership in a service club or organization does not in itself meet your community service responsibilities. However, you can work with others in the organization on community service projects in order to meet your responsibility.
• Individual Community Service Projects
Individual community service projects allow you to complete the service requirement while addressing a community need which interests you. When working on an individual project, you should be committed to providing on-going assistance to the community.

How Do I Select a Meaningful Community Service Project?
You should think about the following questions before selecting a community service project:
• What need or problem exists in the community that interests you?
• What project can you develop in order to work on this need or problem?
• Will your project provide an important service?
• Does the project match your interests, talents, and abilities?
• Are there any special qualifications you need in order to work on the project?
• Will you be able to spend the necessary time on the project?
• What planning steps are needed before beginning the project?
• Who needs to be contacted before the project begins?

Where can I perform community service?
Community serviced hours must be performed solely by the student and may be performed at any of the following: (1) a non-profit organization, (2) a government agency, (2) a school, (3) a hospital, (4) a retirement organization or home, or (5) for a disabled or elderly individual in need of assistance. Students may not receive
community service hours for work on an individual’s political campaign, for volunteering in a relative’s business, or for office work for a private company and may not receive any compensation such as money, gifts or other benefits for their service.

The organizations and agencies listed below typically welcome volunteers. This list should help you develop ideas for community service projects.

• Chambers of Commerce Charities City governments
• Civic organizations Convalescent homes County agencies
• Cultural centers Day care centers Elementary schools
• Hospices Hospitals Libraries
• Middle Schools Museums Parks
• Recreation centers Religious organizations Service organizations
• United Way agencies Zoos

All students must use the Activity Log form to record their community service activities. When turning in hours to the Academy Lead teacher, a letter of verification on company or organization letterhead is required.

Required Essay: Summarize your community service experience in essay forms. Address each of the following items in your essay:

A. Briefly describe your project and the main activities of your project. Describe changes you made from your original proposal (if any).
B. Briefly outline the steps you took to plan, implement, and complete the project. Indicate how much time you spent in completing all aspects of this project.
C. Describe the problems or challenges that occurred during the project. Explain how these problems or challenges were handled.
D. Describe the impact you believe your project had on the community or on the people who received your service.
E. Describe what you learned about your community as you worked on your project. Describe what you learned about yourself and the importance of giving something back to others.