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Community Service

Established in 1992, The District of Columbia’s Community Service Requirement aims to equip students with the necessary skills and abilities for career and educational advancement as well as motivate students to take an active role as leaders in their communities. DC Municipal Regulations require at least 100 hours of volunteer community service in order for students to graduate.

The 100-hour requirement of community service in DCPS may be completed at 501(c)(3) organizations, schools, federal or local agencies, or other organizations if it is non-paying voluntary service for the benefit of the community. Students must also properly document their community service hours by submitting a signed, complete community service form to earn community service hours that count towards the graduation requirement.

Contact your School Counselor, School-based Community Service Point of Contact, or [email protected] for additional information regarding earning community service hours.

Updated Community Service Regulations for Class of 2023 and Beyond

OSSE has released official community service high school graduation requirements for DCPS, which gradually reintroduces community service hours over the next 4 years. These regulations take effect in the 2022-23 school year.

Per the guidance, students are required to complete the following requirements for each graduation year:

• 2022-23: 12 hours (Note: Any student who transfers into DCPS from a non-DCPS or Public Charter School in the middle of the year shall have the requirement waived.)
• 2023-24: 50 hours
• 2024-25: 75 hours
• 2025-26 and after: 100 hours

Additionally, beginning in school year 2022-23, hours earned before a student completes 8th grade cannot be counted toward the graduation requirement.

We are working to update our internal communications and guidance to align with the new regulations and will share those when complete.

All community service hours must comply with DCPS community service guidelines and be approved by the school counselor.

Find Community Service Opportunities

Learn More About Volunteering and Community Service

• DCPS Community Service Hours Verification Form [PDF]
• Community Service FAQs for Students and Families [PDF]
• Community Service FAQs for Schools and Staff [PDF]
• Student Guide to Community Service [PDF]

Keep up with us on Twitter.

Have a great community service opportunity? Contact us.

Community partners interested in sharing community service opportunities with DCPS students should email the School Counseling Team at [email protected] . Opportunities may be completed at 501(c)(3) organizations, schools, federal or local agencies, or other organizations if it is non-paying voluntary service for the benefit of the community.

If your organization has additional questions about community service, please review the FAQ for organizations [PDF] .