P-16+ Service Learning

Service Learning in Illinois

Survey Results

The Purpose of the Survey on Service Learning was to find out what service learning programs exist and Determine state leaders' views about the potential for service learning in Illinois.

Survey of Educators and Business Leaders and their Support for Service Learning
School districts (superintendents, principals, and teachers), community college and university presidents, education deans, faculty P-16, lawmakers, business people, and the media were surveyed. Questions included their support or nonsupport for service learning, their views on its strengths and weaknesses, the potential for Illinois, its relationship to ETC, and their interest in getting involved.

School Districts (Superintendents, Principals, and Teachers)
277 school districts responded: 70-strongly supportive of service learning; 123-supportive; 40-no opinion; 21-unsupportive; 1-strongly unsupportive; 22-No response; 74 have service-learning programs

Deans of Colleges of Education
19 responded: 6-strongly supportive of service learning 11-supportive 2-no opinion 0-unsupportive or strongly unsupportive; 15 have service learning in their courses

Community Colleges
30 responded: 16-strongly supportive 9-supportive 2-no opinion; 0-unsupportive or strongly unsupportive; 3-No response; 20 have service learning in their courses

Universities and Colleges

Presidents
10 responded: 5-strongly supportive 3-supportive 2-no opinion 0-unsupportive or strongly unsupportive

Faculty
16 campuses responded: 9-strongly supportive 6-supportive 0-no opinion 1-unsupportive or strongly unsupportive; 14 have service learning on their campuses

Business
Of the 30 individuals surveyed, 100% supported or strongly supported service learning. Business leaders view service learning as a way of developing workforce skills and being able to relate education to the real world.