Community Service refers to activities carried out by individual students or groups of students to enhance and contribute to their local community. This approach includes:

• Teaching and learning in which students use academic knowledge and skills to address needs in the community.

• Providing a way to help foster civic participation and personal responsibility.

• More than just “volunteerism”; community service benefits members of a  community and should include the following components: preparation, action, and reflection.

• Service which can take place within Arkansas or outside Arkansas.

Community Service in Arkansas combines service to the community with student learning in a way that improves both the student and the community. 

For the Graduating Class of 2026

Arkansas Code Annotated §6-16-120 states that “beginning with the 1996-97 school year and ending with the graduating class of 2025-2026, a student who has completed a minimum of seventy-five (75) clock hours of documented community service in grades nine (9) through twelve (12), at any certified service agency or a part of a service-learning school program shall be eligible to receive one (1) academic credit that may be applied toward graduation."

The Community Service Learning (CSL) course code (496010) enables current 12th grade students to earn credit for their community service learning. This course remains active and is still integrated into the accountability framework. Please note: Act 720 of 2023 eliminates the requirement for the State Board of Education to approve volunteer sites. Approval from the local school board remains, except when the community service is supervised by school staff. The essential components of CSL, including preparation, action, and reflection, continue to be a requirement for credit.

Community Service Learning plans for the graduating class of 2026 must be submitted to DESE through the Course Approval System. To check if a district has a plan on file, contact Isaac.Cross@ade.arkansas.gov.

For the Graduating Class of 2027 and Beyond

Arkansas Code Annotated §6-16-1901 states that “beginning with the graduating class of 2026-2027, a public high school student shall complete a minimum of seventy-five (75) clock hours of documented community service in grades nine through twelve (9-12) in order to graduate.”

There is no minimum community service hour requirement per grade level nor is there a limit on the number of hours a student can earn towards the seventy-five (75) hours in a year. For example: a student who earns thirty (30) hours in 9th grade and forty-five (45) hours in 10th grade will have completed the required seventy-five (75) hours prior to graduation. 

A Community Service plan for the graduating class of 2027 and beyond is not required to be on file with DESE. 

For Transferring Students or Students Graduating Early

Students transferring into a public school district after 9th grade or students graduating early may receive a diploma provided the minimum hour requirement is met for each year they attend a public school district in Arkansas. The minimum number of community service hours for each grade level for these students shall be:  

• Fifteen (15) hours for students in 9th grade

• Twenty (20) hours for students in 10th grade

• Twenty (20) hours for students in 11th grade

• Twenty (20) hours for students in 12th grade 

For example: a student moves to Arkansas from a different state in 11th grade. The student would need to accrue 40 hours of community service to graduate.

Community Service Guidelines

To aid students in fulfilling this requirement, it is recommended that local school boards along with administration establish endorsed volunteer sites and partnerships within the community. The school or district can also arrange service-learning projects that count towards community service hours. However, in cases where a community service project is not approved by the local school board or organized by the district, the decision for approval lies with the school's administration or Community Service coordinator. 

Work-based opportunities for community service may be granted by a district for a student, if determined to meet the needs of individual circumstances.