A group of practitioners of service-learning, under the auspices of the National Service-Learning Cooperative, established a list of the basic elements of high-quality service-learning efforts:

• Using regular assessments and evaluation

• Ensuring culturally appropriate and engaging instruction

• Developing projects that have clear educational goals and meet genuine community needs

• Involving students in selecting, designing, implementing, and evaluating service projects

• Using community partnerships that provide a real-world context for service and that foster communication and interaction

• Providing opportunities for students to reflect on their service experiences

• Providing opportunities to celebrate service work

Source: Making the Case for Social and Emotional Learning and Service-Learning, Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, Education Commission of the States and Laboratory for Student Success.