High School: Community Service Hours (CHS)

Volunteer and/or Community Service Hours are not specifically required for high school graduation; however, it is highly recommended for life experience. (It also looks good on that first job applicaton) Additionally Community Service hours are required for all four of the Florida Bright Futures Scholarships. In addition, many colleges and nearly all local and national scholarships require some level of Community Service.
See the Bright Futures section for specific requirements for each scholarship level.

Community Service Hours can also be used as a high school elective credit. The hours can count as Community Service, or high school credit but not both. Seventy hours are required for each half credit, with a maximum of one credit.

Requirements for documenting Volunteer/Community Service Hours:

It is wise to obtain prior approval from the Guidance Office before committing to a specific activity to ensure that the community service oppertunity meets established criteria .

Community Service Hours (CSH) hours can be earned beginning on the last day of 8th grade and accumulate through the end of the second term of the 12th grade. Students younger than 9th grade are still encouraged to participate in Community Service even though the hours cannot be counted for high school credit. Letters outlining their service can be a part of their permanent school files and accompany their transcripts and the experience can be life changing

Community Service Hours (CSH) should come from a varity of service oppertunities, as this provides the student with a wider range of life experience. For CSH to count the hours must meet the following guidelines:
   1. All services are of a benevolent nature, unpaid, and not for personal gain.
   2. All services are supervised by an approved adult representative of the agency.
   3. Service does not interrupt a student’s regularly scheduled school day.
   4. Service must be completed by the last term of the student’s senior year.
   5. The service is related to service, humanitarian/caring, community needs and does not involve:
     a. direct supervision/ownership/operation by a family member
     b. the presence of illegal substances or unsafe conditions
     c. the use of students for financial gain

Catagories of service include:
In House Ministry:
High School Students should not earn more than 33% of their total CHS by serving in their local church.
   • children’s church—where specific teaching or organization is performed by the student
   • cleaning,
   • office work
   • general service to church or school leadership or the ministry staff and/or building/grounds

Ministry:
High school students can earn CSH's by participating in church-organized activities that impact their community outside of their church walls as outlined below:
   • youth group service projects-- environmental clean up, house/yard/help for needy people etc.    • church organized projects –specific repair, building, heavy cleanup, painting etc.
   • mission trip—local or abroad IF students serveS with a recognized ministry or team providing a service to the local community—building, painting, construction, clean up etc.

Community Service:
High school students can earn up to 75 hours by volunteering as suggested below (this is an example list, not a complete list):
   • food banks and feeding programs/soup kitchens—homeless shelters
   • Habitat for Humanity and other recognized charitable organizations
   • environmental projects/centers
   • serving at a not-for-profit organization or event
   • animal rescues and shelters
   • hospital volunteers
   • public school dividends or other tutoring/mentoring programs
   • holiday related projects such as Toys-for-Tots, Angel Tree, Shoe Box Ministry etc.    • crisis centers
   • Working for a business and not receiving pay, does NOT qualify as Community Service.

Obtain documentation of service hours from the site supervisor, on agency letterhead, or the FOFCAI Community Service Hours Form. The service hours will be placed on the student’s transcript after an evaluation is completed by the school counselor.
To download the Community Service Log sheet Click here