Now Available: "National Survey on Service-Learning and Transitioning to Adulthood" Final Report

The final report for NYLC's "National Survey on Service-Learning and Transitioning to Adulthood" is now available for download. This nationally representative survey — conducted on behalf of the National Youth Leadership Council™ by Harris Interactive®, a global market research and consulting firm — reveals service-learning's significant impact on the youth-adult transition.

This compelling case for service-learning as a strategy to promote a healthy youth-adult transition indicates that participants carry the benefits of their participation into adulthood, as displayed through positive impacts on their civic engagement, pursuit of higher education, career development, and personal relationships.

The survey shows that, compared to their peers, young adults who participated in K-12 service learning …

• are more satisfied with their current status in life.
• are more likely to discuss politics or community issues and vote in an election year.
• are more politically and socially connected to their communities, both as leaders and as role models.
• understand the importance of lifelong learning and, as a whole, are more educated and have higher aspirations.
• are more active members of society.

The 129-page report is filled with extensive data that is essential for service-learning practitioners, youth-development researchers, experiential educators, policy-makers, school administrators, and anyone interested in the lasting impacts of K-12 education strategies. The report covers the survey data, analysis, methodology, and major conclusions. (A shorter article, "Service-Learning and Transitioning to Adulthood," summarizes key findings and their implications for those needing less detail.)

The project included a nationally representative survey of 3,123 U.S. residents ages 18-28 and four face-to-face focus groups.