Inspiring Utah's students to serve
Volunteer for Good
Volunteer for Good is Utah’s high school service initiative, designed to explore the impacts on students’ academics, social connections, civic engagement, and mental well-being through service. The program is in a pilot phase which started in July 2024 with five local education agencies (LEAs)—Garfield, Granite, Nebo, Sevier, and Mountain Heights Academy. In the program, high school students serve their communities and reflect on their impact.
The need
Utah’s public education system is built on principles of civic engagement, career readiness, and strong moral values (Utah Code 53E-2-301.1). While academic outcomes have been a key focus the last few decades, there is a growing need to strengthen students’ personal and community connections to support their academics and mental well-being.
Pilot
program
impact:
Year 2
Pilot year 2: academic year 2025-2026
0
participating students in 19 schools
0
hours of service completed
$0
economic impact
Cumulative
pilot
impact
August 2024 - present
0
participating students in 23 schools
0
hours of service completed
$0
economic impact
Last updated 10.14.2025.
Service in action
At Escalante High School, students volunteered their time to read with kindergarteners. The impact went both ways: not only did the elementary students improve their reading fluency, but the high school students also experienced remarkable growth. Among the teen volunteers, reading comprehension scores rose from 40% to 80%, and the percentage reading below grade level dropped from 37% to just 9%, according to Basic Reading Inventory and DIBELS scores. This is powerful evidence that service strengthens both those who receive assistance and those who provide it.
What
we
expect to
see
Stronger student commitment to volunteering and civic engagement.
Healthier youth with strong academic outcomes, social skills, and mental wellbeing.
Increased connection and collaboration between schools and their local communities.
Greater awareness of youth service among state leaders, educators, organizations and families.
Data-driven proof of concept for broader program adoption and implementation.
Integration of service as a core element of high school education in Utah
Rethinking service
Service goes beyond traditional volunteerism—it can take many forms based on students’ strengths and interests. The Volunteer for Good program offers meaningful, tailored opportunities to empower students to see themselves as change-makers in their communities. The Community Engagement Pathways framework helps connect students’ skills and goals with community needs.
Pilot
launched,
expanding
soon
This program is being piloted in five LEAs: Garfield, Granite, Nebo, Sevier, and Mountain Heights Academy. While new LEAs and students outside of these LEAs can’t join yet, educators and students can stay informed by signing up for updates. Want to get started now? Look for places to volunteer or review the LEA Resources for strategies and best practices to integrate service into your education plans.