Community Service and Paid Work Hours
To access an award through the Bright Futures Program, a student must complete a program of community service work OR paid work, as approved by the school, which will require the student to identify a social problem that interests him or her, develop a plan for his or her personal involvement in addressing the problem, and through papers or other presentations, evaluate and reflect upon his or her experience.
(Florida Statute 1009.534)
What is Community Service?
Community Service is defined as identifying and addressing a social issue in the community. This requires students to look beyond themselves and reach to an issue faced by our society today (i.e. poverty, abuse, elderly citizen, homelessness). These hours will meet the requirement for the Florida Bright Futures Award Program.
How can I earn Community Service for Bright Futures?
To access an award through the Bright Futures program, a student must complete a program of community service work, as approved by the school, which will require the student to identify a social problem that interests him or her, develop a plan for his or her personal involvement in addressing the problem and through papers or other presentations, evaluate and reflect upon his or her experience.
Community Service Requirements:
- Students must complete a Community Service Proposal form and submit it for approval to their grade level School Counselor prior to beginning the service.
- Students must reflect on their experience using the designated form at the conclusion of the project.
- Students should keep copies of all documentation that is submitted to the schools.
- Projects can be done during the summer before 9th grade, beginning July 1, and will be considered to meet the requirement if a proposal is submitted and approved by the high school the student plans to attend before beginning the project.
- Students must perform the service during non-school hours.
- Fundraising may count as community service if all funds raised are donated to address a social issue in the community.
- Service-Learning projects may count as community service, if pre-approved by the school counselor.
- Community Service Logs should be turned in to your School Counselor the first week of each quarter.
What is paid work experience?
• Employment completed through a business with an established Federal ID number
• Work hours completed after July 1, 2022, that are properly documented via pay stubs or a generated report
