AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ELECTIVE CREDIT FOR VOLUNTEERING WITH LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

Delaware high school students earn volunteer credit

Delaware students in grades 9–12 can earn 1 Delaware Volunteer credit by completing qualifying community service. Students must complete at least 45 hours per semester for 2 semesters. Summer and other school-break hours count, but service cannot take place during required school hours. Service must be with a local fire department or an organization or project submitted to a school guidance counselor by the Delaware Office of Volunteerism or Department of Education. Political or advocacy work does not qualify. A director or supervisor must verify hours using forms developed by those agencies. A guidance counselor, principal, or principal’s designee must certify the hours. The credit counts as a graduation elective only with the principal’s approval and supervision. Each student can receive only 1 credit and also receives a certificate of recognition developed by the agencies. Guidance counselors must promote volunteer opportunities and explain the credit, including the fire department option, at or before class selection. The agencies must provide schools with volunteer opportunity information and update it regularly. The Department of Education must attach an explanation of the credit to transcript requests when the transcript includes it. The department can issue rules to carry out the program.