Definitions
For purposes of this subchapter:
Adult volunteer
The term “adult volunteer” means an individual, such as an older adult, an individual with a disability, a parent, or an employee of a business or public or private nonprofit organization, who—
works without financial remuneration in an educational institution to assist students or out-of-school youth; and
is beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in the State in which the educational institution is located.
Alaska Native-serving institution
Approved national service position
Approved silver scholar position
Approved summer of service position
Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution
Authorizing committees
Carry out
Chief Executive Officer
Community-based agency
The term “community-based agency” means a private nonprofit organization (including a church or other religious entity) that—
is representative of a community or a significant segment of a community; and
is engaged in meeting human, educational, environmental, or public safety community needs.
Community-based entity
The term “community-based entity” means a public or private nonprofit organization that—
has experience with meeting unmet human, educational, environmental, or public safety needs; and
meets other such criteria as the Chief Executive Officer may establish.
Corporation
Disadvantaged youth
The term “disadvantaged youth” includes those youth who are economically disadvantaged and 1 or more of the following:
Who are out-of-school youth, including out-of-school youth who are unemployed.
Who are in or aging out of foster care.
Who have limited English proficiency.
Who are homeless or who have run away from home.
Who are at-risk to leave secondary school without a diploma.
Who are former juvenile offenders or at risk of delinquency.
Who are individuals with disabilities.
Economically disadvantaged
Elementary school
Encore service program
The term “encore service program” means a program, carried out by an eligible entity as described in subsection (a), (b), or (c) of section 12572 of this title, that—
involves a significant number of participants age 55 or older in the program; and
takes advantage of the skills and experience that such participants offer in the design and implementation of the program.
Hispanic-serving institution
Historically black college or university
Indian
Indian lands
Indian tribe
The term “Indian tribe” means—
an Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including—
any Native village, as defined in section 1602(c) of title 43, whether organized traditionally or pursuant to the Act of
any Regional Corporation or Village Corporation, as defined in subsection (g) or (j), respectively, of section 1602 of title 43,
that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States under Federal law to Indians because of their status as Indians; and
any tribal organization controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by an entity described in subparagraph (A).
Individual with a disability
Institution of higher education
Local educational agency
Medically underserved population
National service laws
Native American-serving, nontribal institution
Native Hawaiian-serving institution
Out-of-school youth
The term “out-of-school youth” means an individual who—
has not attained the age of 27;
has not completed college or the equivalent thereof; and
is not enrolled in an elementary or secondary school or institution of higher education.
Participant
In general
The term “participant” means—
for purposes of division C, an individual in an approved national service position; and
for purposes of any other provision of this chapter, an individual enrolled in a program that receives assistance under this subchapter.
Rule
Partnership program
Predominantly Black Institution
Principles of scientific research
The term “principles of scientific research” means principles of research that—
apply rigorous, systematic, and objective methodology to obtain reliable and valid knowledge relevant to the subject matter involved;
present findings and make claims that are appropriate to, and supported by, the methods that have been employed; and
include, appropriate to the research being conducted—
use of systematic, empirical methods that draw on observation or experiment;
use of data analyses that are adequate to support the general findings;
reliance on measurements or observational methods that provide reliable and generalizable findings;
strong claims of causal relationships, only with research designs that eliminate plausible competing explanations for observed results, such as, but not limited to, random-assignment experiments;
presentation of studies and methods in sufficient detail and clarity to allow for replication or, at a minimum, to offer the opportunity to build systematically on the findings of the research;
acceptance by a peer-reviewed journal or critique by a panel of independent experts through a comparably rigorous, objective, and scientific review; and
consistency of findings across multiple studies or sites to support the generality of results and conclusions.
Program
Project
Qualified organization
School-age youth
The term “school-age youth” means—
individuals between the ages of 5 and 17, inclusive; and
children with disabilities, as defined in section 602(3) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1401(3)), who receive services under part B of such Act [20 U.S.C. 1411 et seq.].
Scientifically valid research
Secondary school
Service-learning
The term “service-learning” means a method—
under which students or participants learn and develop through active participation in thoughtfully organized service that—
is conducted in and meets the needs of a community;
is coordinated with an elementary school, secondary school, institution of higher education, or community service program, and with the community; and
helps foster civic responsibility; and
that—
is integrated into and enhances the academic curriculum of the students, or the educational components of the community service program in which the participants are enrolled; and
provides structured time for the students or participants to reflect on the service experience.