Summarizes a new synthesis from the National Center on Effective Secondary Schools, which shows that high school youth service programs are far from common. Models for school-based programs include special events and cocurricular activities, school credit or requirement, laboratory for an existing course, community service classes, and service as…

Waning interest in community service is spurring the Coalition for National Service and other groups to recommend various measures to encourage and finance voluntary national service for young people. This article discusses history, current definitions, and legislative initiatives concerned with national service. A sidebar provides a statement and…