By Ryan Pinkham, Stockton Unified School District Curriculum Specialist

Stockton Unified School District (SUSD) is a large urban public school system located in the heart of California’s Central Valley. Serving more than 34,000 students with over 1,500 full-time teachers, SUSD is leading the way in 21st-century learning opportunities. The district has made significant strides in Career Technical Education (CTE), Ethnic Studies, and service-learning through its initiative to expand student access to the State Seal of Civic Engagement (SSCE). These efforts have contributed to measurable gains in academic achievement, including higher graduation rates, reduced chronic absenteeism, and stronger preparation for college, career, and community readiness.

The path to service-learning in SUSD began during the 2023–24 school year with an initial focus on integrating service-learning into the social studies curriculum, specifically within American Government courses.  This effort was to support students in earning the California Department of Education’s SSCE. During the initial launch, SUSD partnered with the National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) and students from the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council.  It were these students who created the district’s criteria for the SSCE, and six advisory students successfully earned the prestigious state recognition. Though the effort began on a small scale, it set the foundation for districtwide expansion.

Civic engagement is not limited to social studies. Through service-learning, students gain opportunities to voice their interests and address issues they care about, applying civic principles in meaningful real-world contexts. This approach opens pathways for authentic learning across disciplines, including science, mathematics, English Language Arts, Ethnic Studies, and the visual and performing arts. By connecting academic content to community impact, SUSD empowers students to see themselves as active contributors to society.

Building on lessons from the first year, SUSD expanded its service-learning initiative districtwide in 2024–25. The inclusion of students from all content areas, and beyond the initial group of student advisory members led to remarkable growth. Over 100 students completed civic engagement action projects, and 51 high school seniors attained the SSCE.

Now entering its third year, SUSD’s districtwide effort to train teachers and provide students with meaningful civic engagement opportunities continues to expand. Following the teachings of NYLC, student voice, curriculum connections, community partnerships, and purposeful service remain the core principles guiding the district’s service-learning work.

SUSD is focused on embedding service-learning within CTE, STEM classes, Ethnic Studies, Peer Leaders Uniting Students (PLUS), and Social Studies. To date, over 40 teachers have received foundational training in service-learning standards and now serve as site-based champions, building awareness, mentoring peers, and expanding civic engagement opportunities across campuses.

This intentional and collaborative approach has yielded significant progress. SUSD teachers and students are not only embracing service-learning but also strengthening their commitment to civic engagement. As a result, the district has consistently met its SSCE benchmarks each year since adopting the civic engagement criteria. Projections for the 2025–26 school year indicate that hundreds of students will be eligible to earn the SSCE, reflecting SUSD’s growing culture of learning through service and leadership.

For more information about bridging service-learning and civic engagement, contact [email protected].