SSL for Nonprofit and Government Organizations
COVID-19 and SSL - Student Service Learning
MCPS SSL guidelines have been modified to meet the service-learning needs of our students during this time period, and we are excited to announce that students can now earn SSL hours for some limited remote/virtual service completed from home under the supervision of an approved nonprofit organization. These virtual/remote SSL opportunities may be offered to our students until the end of the 2021-2022 school year.
Please carefully review the temporarily amended MCPS SSL guidelines related to virtual volunteering that have been created to ensure that any virtual/remote service during this time maintains the safety and privacy of our students and adheres to the proper supervision and monitoring needed for SSL as a state graduation requirement.
Questions? Contact Donna Kleffman at ssl@mcpsmd.org
Overview - Student Service Learning
The Volunteer Center works in partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) to show on our website organizations and volunteer opportunities that have been reviewed by MCPS to show those appropriate for for Student Service Learning (SSL) hours. Qualified organizations must register with the Volunteer Center and follow the steps set forth by MCPS to have the graduation cap icon with MCPS SSL added to their account on the Volunteer Center website.
Please review the expectations for meeting the MCPS SSL guidelines
Faith-based Organizations: Download form with details on guidelines for religious organizations and the kinds of secular activities that can count for SSL hours.
See SSL Guidelines for Community Organizations
MCPS Requirements for SSL Status
- Register with the Volunteer Center by creating account on website.
- Attend an Orientation when you initially register, and then at least once every three years to keep your MCPS SSL status. See handouts from orientations. See the SSL powerpoint component of the orientation; Powerpoint version; PDF version.
- Submit to Montgomery County Public Schools a signed MCPS Student Service Learning Organization Responsibility and Assurance Document (new as of August 2018). Forms can be brought to the orientation or email scanned documents to ssl@mcpsmd.org
- Keep active Organization and description of volunteer work posted on our website:
- Organization - Website requires annual login for updates in order for organization account to remain active and showing as SSL approved. Login to your account and even if there are no changes click on the "UPDATE ORGANIZATION INFO" button to show that you've reviewed your account.
- On your organization page be sure the "What Volunteers Do" field includes a general description of the work of your volunteers for SSL review.
- SSL Volunteer Opportunities - If you are actively recruiting volunteers, post opportunities and be sure to click on the "clusters" field to select "Request for MCPS SSL" and use the minimum age field.
The SSL Coordinator for Montgomery County Public Schools reviews every organization and volunteer opportunity requesting SSL review. You will be able to see the MCPS SSL icon once it has been added by MCPS staff. They will contact you if there are questions before adding the SSL icon.
Have other questions about SSL for students, parents and nonprofits?
- Go to the MCPS website for SSL FAQs, copies of SSL Verification forms, list of SSL coordinators in the schools, dates forms are due and more: www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/ssl/
- Contact the central SSL Office to reach Donna Kleffman at ssl@mcpsmd.org or 240-740-4691.
- Contact the SSL Coordinator at each high school and middle school
- See slideshow on SSL for community organizations: Powerpoint version; PDF version
