Juniors to perform community service

TRENTON - New Jersey has launched a three-year pilot program that requires high school juniors from selected schools to perform 15 hours of community service. The move makes New Jersey the second state in the nation, along with Maryland, to require community service of its students. ``We have a moral obligation and a social commitment to help those less fortunate. By making community service part of the high school experience, we can teach students that life is much bigger than the individual and that each of us has the ability to impact others,'' said acting Gov. Richard J. Codey, who signed a bill creating the program on Friday. The pilot program is scheduled to begin this school year in 30 high schools to be chosen by the education commissioner. It calls for students to complete their hours of service during evenings, weekends or summer vacation. Students may complete the requirement with a nonprofit agency, health care facility or any other community organization approved by the state Department of Education. The state will decide whether to continue or expand the program to all high schools in the state based on a report from the education commissioner to the governor and Legislature in December 2008.