This paper explores the implications of an effort to promote service learning in two middle schools in the Palo Alto (California) Unified School District. The schools are grades six through eight with about 1,000 students in each. The paper describes seven service efforts and then analyzes the costs and benefits of these projects. The study concludes with some reflections on why service learning is a difficult reform to implement, makes recommendations for practitioners, and suggests considerations for policy makers who are considering implementing service learning in their communities. (EH)