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New Career & Community Service Requirements in Place for Class of 2019

The Pennsylvania Department of Education now requires all high school students to complete a career plan and portfolio as part of their graduation requirements. In order to meet this requirement, the Keystone Oaks Board of School Directors has approved the following changes to the number of community service hours that students must earn in order to graduate:


  • Students are now only required to perform 60 hours of community service.

  • Students who complete 60 hours of approved community service will earn 0.5 credits.  

  • Students who may have already accumulated an additional 60 hours of community service may earn an additional 0.5 credits towards their elective requirements. This only applies to students who have earned those hours as of the end of the 2017-2018 school year.

  • These requirements are in place for the graduating classes of 2019, 2020 and 2021.


High School staff members recently met with students in grades 9, 10 and 11 to explain these new requirements. Additionally, due to the reduction in the number of required community service hours, participation in a sport, band or District-approved club, will no longer count towards community service hours. If the group conducts a community service activity, such as a community clean-up, that activity will count as community service. 


More information about the Community Service requirement is available in the Community Service Handbook on the District's website - http://www.kosd.org/communityservice.aspx. The Community Service Handbook includes a list of suggested organizations where students have volunteered. Please note that this list is not exhaustive; however all community service must be approved by the Career & Community Service Coordinator.


As part of the Career Portfolio & Plan requirements, students will now be required to complete job shadowing, internship or other activities related to a career they are interested in. Additionally, students will create a portfolio of artifacts from course work and other counseling activities. Students will receive a total of 0.5 credits for the career requirement.


Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, a Career & Community Service Coordinator will be available to assist students with these new requirements. A parent/guardian information night will be held at the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year and more information will also be available as the new school year approaches.