Press Releases
June 18, 2009
Learn and Serve Texas Grant
Austin, TX, June 18, 2009 – The Texas Center for Service-Learning announced recently that it will award $990,000 in Learn and Serve Texas grants for service-learning programs that will involve nearly 60,000 students across the state of Texas in meaningful service projects that will enrich learning and strengthen communities. These grants are funded through the Learn and Serve America program of the Corporation for National and Community Service and are awarded as part of a three-year grant cycle, with continuation funding projected through August 2012.
The Learn and Serve Texas grant recipients are as follows:
- Alpine Independent School District
- American YouthWorks Charter School
- Austin Independent School District
- Canutillo Independent School District
- Childress Independent School District
- Colorado Independent School District
- Coppell Independent School District
- Eden Independent School District
- Friona Independent School District
- Georgetown Independent School District
- Haskell Independent School District
- Hitchcock Independent School District
- Holland Independent School District
- Humble Independent School District
- Irving Independent School District
- Luling Independent School District
- Region 10 Education Service Center
- Region 14 Education Service Center
- Round Rock Independent School District
- Schleicher County Independent School District
- Shallowater Independent School District
- Sulphur Springs Independent School District
This grant will allow these school districts to implement high quality service-learning programs that support strong community partnerships, engage young people in schools and communities, expand service-learning for disadvantaged students, involve youth in service-learning activities related to the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service (www.mlkday.gov), and sustain and institutionalize this effective method of teaching and learning.
About the Texas Center for Service-Learning: The Texas Center for Service-learning provides statewide leadership to support service-learning through programs, training, and technical assistance. The Texas Center is a statewide initiative of Region 14 Education Service Center (ESC) and the Texas Education Agency.
About Service-Learning: Service-learning is a teaching method that enriches learning by engaging students in meaningful service to their schools and communities. Young people apply academic skills to solving real-world issues, linking established learning objectives with genuine needs. They lead the process, with adults as partners, applying critical thinking and problem-solving skills to concerns such as hunger, pollution, and diversity. To learn more about service-learning visit www.servicelearningtexas.org, www.nylc.org, www.ysa.org, www.service-learningpartnership.org and www.statefarm.com/about/....
Aug. 20, 2009
Texas Healthy Habitats Grants Awarded to 15 Texas Schools, Nonprofits
Student Projects Will Help Implement Texas Wildlife Action Plan
AUSTIN, Texas – A total of $225,000 in Texas Healthy Habitats Grants has been awarded to 15 different schools and non-profit youth organizations across the state, including schools in or near Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, Bryan, Lubbock and other cities. Each organization will receive up to $15,000 to support students doing service-learning projects to benefit wildlife and the environment.
The grants are being administered by the Texas Center for Service-Learning, made possible with a donation from EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department scientists met with student- teacher teams on Aug. 14 in Austin, and TPWD experts will continue to guide grant projects as they unfold over the next year.
The students will address priorities in the Texas Wildlife Action Plan, a blueprint to “keep common species common” and avoid more species from becoming threatened and endangered. Texas is believed to be the first state where student service projects will support a state wildlife action plan.
Students will research and define a local environmental issue, investigate public and organizational policies related to the issue, design and implement a service-learning project in collaboration with at least two community partners (including TPWD staff), evaluate and publicize the results to public officials and community members, and develop Web profiles for each project that will be integrated into the TPWD and TxCSL Web sites. Students will likely plan projects this fall and do field work in spring.
Earlier this year, EnCana donated $486,000 to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. The donations supports the Healthy Habitats grants program, plus two other projects— control of giant salvinia and other invasive plants choking Toledo Bend reservoir in East Texas, and facilities for the new Texas Game Warden Training Center in Hamilton.
Texas Healthy Habitats Grants Awarded to 15 Texas Schools, Nonprofits
