CHAPTER 14. COMMUNITY OR VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROGRAM
IC 20-30-14
Chapter 14. Community or Volunteer Service Program
IC 20-30-14-1
Development of community service ethic
Sec. 1. Each school corporation may encourage the developmentof a community service ethic among high school students in grade 11or 12 in the school corporation by offering each grade 11 or 12student:
(1) as part of the corporation's elective curriculum;
(2) in compliance with rules adopted by the state board undersection 9 of this chapter; and
(3) upon completion by the student of approved communityservice or other volunteer service;
the opportunity for the student to earn academic credit toward thestudent's minimum graduation requirements.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.
IC 20-30-14-2
Application for academic credit for community or volunteerservice
Sec. 2. For each student who wishes to earn academic credit forcommunity service or volunteer service under this chapter, thestudent, a teacher of the student, or a community or volunteer serviceorganization must submit an application that includes the followinginformation to the principal or the principal's designee of the highschool in which the student is enrolled:
(1) The name of the community service organization orvolunteer service organization the student intends to assist.
(2) The name, address, and telephone number of the director orthe supervisor of the community service organization orvolunteer service organization and, if different from the directoror supervisor, the name, address, and telephone number of theindividual assigned by the community or volunteer serviceorganization to supervise the student at the activity site.
(3) The nature of the community service or volunteer serviceperformed by the student with a certification that the serviceperformed by the student is voluntary.
(4) The total number of hours the student intends to serve thecommunity service organization or volunteer serviceorganization during the school year.
(5) A written statement by the director or the supervisor of thecommunity service organization or volunteer serviceorganization certifying that the information included in theapplication is an accurate reflection of:
(A) the student's expectations with regard to the number ofhours of service contemplated to be performed; and
(B) the community service organization's or the volunteerservice organization's need to acquire the student's service.
(6) A description of: (A) the educational or career exploration benefits the studentand the school should expect to gain from the student'scommunity or volunteer service participation; and
(B) the service and benefit the community or volunteerservice organization expects to gain from the student'sparticipation.
(7) A description of how the community or volunteer serviceactivity relates to a course in which the student is enrolled orintends to enroll.
(8) The manner and frequency in which the student and thecommunity or volunteer service activity will be evaluated.
(9) The name of the certificated school employee who will beresponsible for monitoring and evaluating the student's activityand performance, including assigning to the student a grade forparticipation under this section.
(10) Any other information required by the principal.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.
IC 20-30-14-3
Application deadline
Sec. 3. For each school year in which a student wishes to earnacademic credit under this chapter, the student must submit theapplication to participate under this chapter before November 1 ofthe school year. The principal may waive this application deadline ifthe principal determines that:
(1) the student was unable to meet the application deadline dueto extraordinary circumstances; and
(2) the student will reasonably be able to accrue beforegraduation at least the minimum number of hours of servicerequired to acquire at least one (1) academic credit toward thestudent's graduation requirements.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.
IC 20-30-14-4
Eligibility determination
Sec. 4. Upon receipt of the application, the principal or theprincipal's designee shall determine whether the student is eligible toreceive academic credit under this section based on the guidelinesestablished by the department under section 8 of this chapter andrules adopted by the state board under section 9 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.
IC 20-30-14-5
Notification of eligibility determination; periodic progress reports
Sec. 5. The principal or the principal's designee shall notify thestudent and the director or the sponsor of the community serviceorganization or the volunteer service organization of thedetermination made under section 4 of this chapter. If the student'sapplication is approved, the director or sponsor of the communityservice organization or the volunteer service organization shall
periodically report to the principal or the principal's designee on thestudent's fulfillment of the expectations included in the application.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.
IC 20-30-14-6
Certification of service hours contributed
Sec. 6. Upon the completion of the school year, the principal orthe principal's designee shall request the director or the sponsor ofthe community service organization or the volunteer serviceorganization to submit a report on the student's service during theschool year that certifies the total number of hours of servicecontributed by the student.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.
IC 20-30-14-7
Award of academic credit
Sec. 7. If the student's total number of hours of service is at leastequal to the minimum number of hours required to earn academiccredit for community service or volunteer service as set forth in rulesadopted by the state board, the student shall receive the amount ofacademic credit available under the state board's rules for the servicetoward the student's graduation requirements.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.
IC 20-30-14-8
Guidelines
Sec. 8. The department shall develop guidelines necessary toimplement this section, including guidelines to assist principals ordesignees in determining whether a particular community serviceorganization or volunteer service organization qualifies as an entityin which a student's volunteer service translates into academic creditunder this section.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.
IC 20-30-14-9
Rules
Sec. 9. The state board shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2necessary to implement this section, including rules stipulating thefollowing:
(1) The types of community service organizations or volunteerservice organizations that qualify as entities described in section8 of this chapter.
(2) The types of community services or volunteer servicesperformed by a student that qualify for approval under thischapter.
(3) That the student must perform at least forty-eight (48) hoursof service to earn one (1) academic credit.
(4) That not more than two (2) academic credits towardgraduation are available to a student under this chapter.
(5) That the exploitation or endangerment of students
participating under this chapter is prohibited.
(6) That each school corporation and community serviceorganization or volunteer service organization participatingunder this chapter shall monitor student activity under thischapter and compile periodic reports from students and otherindividuals to ensure:
(A) student health and safety, including assurances thatstudents are not expected to perform duties that areprohibited by law or rule for which students are inadequatelyprepared or supervised;
(B) an educational benefit to the student is being derived bythe student; and
(C) compliance with appropriate statutes and rules.
(7) The minimum acceptable level of certificated schoolemployee staffing required to adequately implement, monitor,and evaluate the program under this chapter.
(8) The method for demonstrating and enforcing the assurancesdescribed under subdivision (6).
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.