The High School for Public Service, a public school started in 2003 as part of New York City's small schools initiative, maintains a focus on civic learning and engagement.

It asks each student "to strive not only for academic excellence, but to be a better citizen," says principal Ben Shuldiner.

Shuldiner describes his challenges leading the High School for Public Service to be the same facing most principals: ensuring students meet academic goals; engaging parents; facilitating the professional community and development of teachers; operating with limited time and budget (the start-up money granted the school will be exhausted this year, and like other public schools, it relies on "the generosity of citizens").

What makes the High School for Public Service distinct is its vision for civic engagement. 

Shuldiner says, "I believe if it doesn’t come from the top, it doesn’t happen schoolwide.  The principal has to believe it is worth spending a certain number of school days on community service, to give teachers the time they need, to plan trips.  It has to be a firm commitment -- programmatically, budgetarily -- even if there’s pushback.  Principals have great power to make things happen."

CURRICULUM
In addition to academic classes, each year students take a semester-long Community Action Now (CAN) class, whose curriculum teachers develop collaboratively. 

Over four years, the class takes a hard look at societal ills and engages in public projects.  "Students have worked on everything from Band-Aid projects to more sustainable things like creating tutoring centers or increasing educational outlets," says Shudliner.  The purpose, he says, is to help students become informed leaders and activists in their own communities.

In their senior year, students take a government class.  Because it is not a mandated curriculum for the New York State Regents Exam, teachers develop their own curricula, which builds on what students have been learning in their community action classes. 

In addition, an advisory group -- which students stay in for all four years of high school -- meets twice a week for an hour, and includes community service work. 

Regarding the effect of civic learning on student's academic achievement, Shuldiner says, "Students that become active in community service also continue and focus on their academics.  Students that really care about the community end up caring about themselves and their future.

"One of the great things about community service is that all students can do it, and do it well.  When you give a child a sense of mastery, you get them to believe they can also do other things well.  In addition, it also makes a lot of students feel very good about themselves, knowing they are doing something good for society and can take an acvite role.  I've seen a change in students socially, emotionally, even physically in how they carry themselves and speak."  

CULTURE
Because it is a public school, students apply for the School for Public Service just as they would for any other school in the city of New York.  "We try to go to a lot of junior highs and say 'this is what we do.  If you like this, come apply,'"says Shudiner; nevertheless, the student body is not remarkably different from that in other New York City public schools.

"We have to embue the value of community service in them," says Shuldiner.  "When they walk through the hallway, they read quotes and see pictures of people we consider heroes on the wall.  (On my door I have Lincoln and Ghandi.)  All the teachers believe in it and participate in community service."

RELATIONSHIP WITH COMMUNITY
"You don't walk down the street, and all of a sudden you're in 'the community,'" says Shuldiner.  "Instead, we try to develop relationships with civic organizations in our area -- we collaborate with a Dutch Reformed Church, a soup kitchen, public agencies.  And, across New York City, there are a number of organizations our kids have a relationship with: AIDS walk, St. Jude's..., as well as national initiatives like Youth Service Week.  So, kids are really active members of community, however you want to define it."