---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 12563"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "12563"
heading: "Innovative and community-based service-learning programs and research"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/12563"
units:
  - "Chapter 129 — National and Community Service"
  - "Subchapter I — National and Community Service State Grant Program"
  - "Division B — School-Based and Community-Based Service-Learning Programs"
  - "Part III — Innovative and Community-Based Service-Learning Programs and Research"
---

# §12563. Innovative and community-based service-learning programs and research

- (a) **Definitions—** In this part:
  - (1) **Eligible entity—** The term “eligible entity” means a [State educational agency](/usc/42/12522.md?p=2), a [State](/usc/42/12522.md?p=1) Commission, a territory, an Indian tribe, an [institution of higher education](/usc/42/12626.md?p=7), or a public or private [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organization (including community-based entities), a public or private elementary school or secondary school, a local educational [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), a [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) of such entities, or a [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) of 2 or more such entities and a for-profit organization.
  - (2) **Eligible partnership—** The term “eligible partnership” means a partnership that—
    - (A) shall include—
      - (i) 1 or more community-based entities that have demonstrated records of success in carrying out [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) with economically disadvantaged students, and that meet such criteria as the Chief Executive Officer may establish; and
      - (ii) a local educational [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) for which—
        - (I) a high number or percentage, as determined by the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2), of the students served by the [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) are economically disadvantaged students; and
        - (II) the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (as defined in [section 7801 of title 20](/usc/20/7801.md)) for the secondary school students served by the [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) is less than 70 percent; and
    - (B) may also include—
      - (i) a local government [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) that is not described in [subparagraph (A)](#a-2-A);
      - (ii) the office of the chief executive officer of a [unit of general local government](/usc/42/11851.md?p=12);
      - (iii) an [institution of higher education](/usc/42/12626.md?p=7);
      - (iv) a [State](/usc/42/12522.md?p=1) Commission or [State educational agency](/usc/42/12522.md?p=2); or
      - (v) more than 1 local educational [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) described in subclause (I).[^1]
  - (3) **Youth engagement zone—** The term “youth engagement zone” means the area in which a youth engagement zone [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) is carried out.
  - (4) **Youth engagement zone program—** The term “youth engagement zone [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8)” means a [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) in which members of an eligible partnership collaborate to provide coordinated school-based or community-based [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) opportunities—
    - (A) in order to address a specific community challenge;
    - (B) for an increasing percentage of out-of-school youth and secondary school students served by a local educational [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1); and
    - (C) in circumstances under which—
      - (i) not less than 90 percent of such students participate in [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) activities as part of the [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8); or
      - (ii) [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) is a part of the curriculum in all of the secondary schools served by the local educational [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1).
- (b) **General authority—** From the amounts appropriated to carry out this part for a fiscal year, the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) may make grants (which may include approved summer of service positions in the case of a grant for a [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) described in [subsection (c)(8)](#c-8)) and fixed-amount grants (in accordance with [section 12581(l)](/usc/42/12581.md?p=l) of this title) to eligible entities or eligible partnerships, as appropriate, for [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) and activities described in [subsection (c)](#c).
- (c) **Authorized activities—** Funds under this part may be used to—
  - (1) integrate [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) into the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (referred to in this part as “STEM”) curricula at the elementary, secondary, postsecondary, or postbaccalaureate levels in coordination with practicing or retired STEM professionals;
  - (2) involve students in [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) focusing on energy conservation in their community, including conducting educational outreach on energy conservation and working to improve energy efficiency in low-income housing and in public spaces;
  - (3) involve students in [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) in emergency and [disaster](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2) preparedness;
  - (4) involve students in [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) aimed at improving access to and obtaining the benefits from computers and other emerging technologies, including improving such access for individuals with disabilities, in low-income or rural communities, in senior centers and communities, in schools, in libraries, and in other public spaces;
  - (5) involve high school age youth in the mentoring of middle school youth while involving all participants in [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) to seek to meet unmet human, educational, environmental, public safety, or emergency and [disaster](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2) preparedness needs in their community;
  - (6) conduct research and evaluations on [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9), including [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) in middle schools, and disseminate such research and evaluations widely;
  - (7) conduct innovative and creative activities as described in [section 12523(a) of this title](/usc/42/12523.md?p=a);
  - (8) establish or implement summer of service [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) (giving priority to [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) that enroll youth who will be enrolled in any of grades 6 through 9 at the end of the summer concerned) during the summer months (including recruiting, training, and placing [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) coordinators)—
    - (A) for youth who will be enrolled in any of grades 6 through 12 at the end of the summer concerned; and
    - (B) for community-based [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2)—
      - (i) that shall—
        - (I) meet unmet human, educational, environmental (including energy conservation and stewardship), and emergency and [disaster](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2) preparedness and other public safety needs; and
        - (II) be intensive, structured, supervised, and designed to produce identifiable improvements to the community;
      - (ii) that may include the extension of academic year [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) into the summer months; and
      - (iii) under which a student who completes 100 hours of service as described in [section 12602(b)(2) of this title](/usc/42/12602.md?p=b-2),[^2] shall be eligible for a summer of service educational award of $500 or $750 as described in sections [12602(a)(2)(C)](/usc/42/12602.md?p=a-2-C) and [12603(d)](/usc/42/12603.md?p=d) of this title;
  - (9) establish or implement youth engagement zone [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) in youth engagement zones, for students in secondary schools served by local educational [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) for which a majority of such students do not participate in [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) activities that are—
    - (A) carried out by eligible partnerships; and
    - (B) designed to—
      - (i) involve all students in secondary schools served by the local educational [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) in [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) to address a specific community challenge;
      - (ii) improve student engagement, including student attendance and student behavior, and student achievement, graduation rates, and college-going rates at secondary schools; and
      - (iii) involve an increasing percentage of students in secondary school and out-of-school youth in the community in school-based or community-based [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) activities each year, with the goal of involving all students in secondary schools served by the local educational [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) and involving an increasing percentage of the out-of-school youth in [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) activities; and
  - (10) conduct semester of service [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) that—
    - (A) provide opportunities for secondary school students to participate in a semester of coordinated school-based or community-based [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) opportunities for a minimum of 70 hours (of which at least a third will be spent participating in field-based activities) over a semester, to address specific community challenges;
    - (B) engage as participants high percentages or numbers of economically disadvantaged students;
    - (C) allow participants to receive academic credit, for the time spent in the classroom and in the field for the [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8), that is equivalent to the academic credit for any class of equivalent length and with an equivalent time commitment; and
    - (D) ensure that the classroom-based instruction component of the [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) is integrated into the academic [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) of the local educational [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) involved; and
  - (11) carry out any other innovative [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) or research that the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) considers appropriate.
- (d) **Applications—** To be eligible to receive a grant to carry out a [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) or activity under this part, an entity or partnership, as appropriate, shall prepare and submit to the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) an application at such time and in such manner as the Chief Executive Officer may reasonably require, and obtain approval of the application.
- (e) **Priority—** In making grants under this part, the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) shall give priority to applicants proposing to—
  - (1) involve students and community stakeholders in the design and implementation of [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) carried out using funds received under this part;
  - (2) implement [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) in low-income or rural communities; and
  - (3) utilize adult volunteers, including tapping the resources of retired and retiring adults, in the planning and implementation of [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8).
- (f) **Requirements—**
  - (1) **Term—** Each [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) or activity funded under this part shall be carried out over a period of 3 years, which may include 1 planning year. In the case of a [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) funded under this part, the 3-year period may be extended by 1 year, if the [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) meets performance levels established in accordance with [section 12639(k) of this title](/usc/42/12639.md?p=k) and any other criteria determined by the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2).
  - (2) **Collaboration encouraged—** Each entity carrying out a [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) or activity funded under this part shall, to the extent practicable, collaborate with entities carrying out [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) under this division, division C, and titles I and II of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 ([42 U.S.C. 4951](/usc/42/4951.md) et seq., 5001 et seq.).
  - (3) **Evaluation—** Not later than 4 years after the effective date of the Serve America Act, the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) shall conduct an independent evaluation of the [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) and activities carried out using funds made available under this part, and determine best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) relating to [service-learning](/usc/42/12626.md?p=9) and recommendations for improvement of those [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) and activities. The [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) shall widely disseminate the results of the evaluations, and information on the best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) and recommendations to the service community through multiple channels, including the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2)’s Resource Center or a clearinghouse of effective strategies.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Clause (v) does not contain subclauses.
[^2]: So in original. Comma probably should not appear.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–610, title I, § 119, as added Pub. L. 111–13, title I, § 1204, Apr. 21, 2009, 123 Stat. 1479; amended Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9215(bbb)(3), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2185.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, referred to in subsec. (f)(2), is Pub. L. 93–113, Oct. 1, 1973, 87 Stat. 394. Titles I and II of the Act are classified generally to subchapters I (§ 4951 et seq.) and II (§ 5000 et seq.), respectively, of chapter 66 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 4950 of this title and Tables.

For the effective date of the Serve America Act, referred to in subsec. (f)(3), as Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of Pub. L. 111–13, set out as an Effective Date of 2009 Amendment note under section 4950 of this title.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 119 of Pub. L. 101–610 was renumbered section 118 and is classified to section 12561 of this title.

### Amendments

2015—Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(ii)(II). Pub. L. 114–95 substituted “the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (as defined in section 7801 of title 20)” for “the graduation rate (as defined in section 6311(b)(2)(C)(vi) of title 20 and as clarified in applicable regulations promulgated by the Department of Education”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2015 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of Title 20, Education.

### Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of Pub. L. 111–13, set out as an Effective Date of 2009 Amendment note under section 4950 of this title.