The rule in one paragraph
Students who want a Standard Diploma from Broward County Public Schools must complete 40 documented service learning hours. Hours can start once you are promoted to 9th grade. This page follows the Service Learning Guidelines on the district's website; your school's Service Learning Coordinator has the final word.
What counts and what does not
- Counts: service through a school club, class or organization you belong to (not every club project counts, so ask first).
- Counts: summer service, or service with a group that is not a school club, when it meets the district’s guidelines. Turn in a Community Service Approval Form before you start, so you know the hours will count.
- Counts: unpaid work on political and issue campaigns, except school board races.
- Counts: helping at a place of worship with jobs such as landscaping, clean-up days or the day care center, but not religious services or teaching religion.
- Counts: up to 5 hours a week in an approved peer tutoring program, outside your own classes.
- Does not count: service that is a condition of getting a job.
- Does not count: hours based on the money you raised or the products you sold.
- Does not count: donations of money or items, such as canned food (the time you spend collecting can count, outside the school day).
- Does not count: service for your family or a family business, and babysitting for a family.
- Does not count: athletics, plays, debate meets and other school or competitive activities.
- Does not count: service ordered as discipline by the school or the courts, and in general, service for a for-profit business.
How to record your hours
Every hour goes on the district's Volunteer Service Record Log Sheet, which you return to your school's Service Learning Coordinator. Keep a copy for yourself. A family member or another student cannot certify your hours. If your school turns down hours, you can appeal in writing to the district's Department of Student Activities and Athletics, with a copy of the log sheet.
A simple pace
40 hours over four years is 10 hours a year: one project or a few weekend shifts a year is enough.
More hours, more rewards
The same hours count toward Florida Bright Futures: 75 for Medallion Scholars and 100 for Academic Scholars. Gold Seal CAPE and Gold Seal Vocational Scholars need 75 if you started 9th grade in 2024-25 or later; if you started before then it is 30, which your 40 graduation hours cover. Bright Futures also accepts 100 hours of paid work done on or after July 1, 2022, and you can combine paid work with service; paid work does not count toward the 40 graduation hours or the silver cord.
Students with 250 volunteer service hours can receive a silver cord to wear at graduation. The total is adjusted for students who join Broward schools after 9th grade.
Keep your own record, free
Your school's system is the official record; keep your own copy too, with the date, the hours and who supervised you. Print the free volunteer hours log, work out your weekly pace with the volunteer hours calculator, or track it in My Award Tracker: pick the Broward County graduation requirement goal and see the hours left and the pace you need as you log.
Other states and districts: see community service hours to graduate, every state.
Frequently asked questions
How many service hours do Broward County students need to graduate?
40 documented service learning hours for a Standard Diploma.
When can Broward students start earning hours?
As soon as they are promoted to 9th grade.
Do summer hours count in Broward?
Yes, when the service meets the district’s Service Learning Guidelines. For service outside a school club or organization, turn in a Community Service Approval Form before you start, so you know the hours will count.
What does not count in Broward?
Service for your family or a family business, babysitting for a family, athletics, plays and debate meets, donations of money or items, service ordered as discipline, service that is a condition of a job, and in general service for a for-profit business.
What is the Broward silver cord?
Students who reach 250 volunteer service hours can receive a silver cord to wear at commencement. The total is adjusted for students who join Broward schools after 9th grade.
Do the 40 hours count for Bright Futures?
Yes, toward its larger totals: Medallion Scholars need 75 hours and Academic Scholars 100. Gold Seal CAPE and Gold Seal Vocational need 75 if you started 9th grade in 2024-25 or later, and 30 if you started before then, which the 40 cover. Bright Futures also accepts 100 paid work hours instead, but paid work does not count toward the 40 graduation hours.