The rule in one paragraph
Under School Board Policy 5410 (the Student Progression Plan), M-DCPS students in the four-year, 24-credit standard program must complete a community service project to graduate. You can do it any time in high school, and no number of hours is required for graduation. Your school approves and verifies the project. It is not required for the 18-credit ACCEL option. Completing the half-credit course Voluntary School/Community Service also meets the requirement.
What counts and what does not
- Counts: a project of your own, with a group (such as a service club, honor society or team) or at your school, that meets a real need you choose.
- Counts: service with a nonprofit, a government agency, a school, a hospital, or a retirement organization or home.
- Counts: helping an elderly or disabled person who needs assistance.
- Counts: online or virtual projects, when your school approves them in advance.
- Does not count: membership in a service club or organization by itself.
- Does not count: a project you started without an approved Project Proposal.
How to record your hours
Every student completes three district forms: the Project Proposal and Activity Log (Form FM-6586) and the Project Summary Report.
| Form | When and who signs |
|---|---|
| Project Proposal | Before you start. You describe the project, the need and the result you hope for; a parent or guardian signs, and your counselor or the principal’s designee (in 12th grade, your government or economics teacher) approves it. |
| Activity Log | While you work. Every student logs their activities; the hours column is only required for Bright Futures or the Superintendent’s Diploma of Distinction. |
| Project Summary Report | When you finish. You and a parent or guardian sign it and the Activity Log, and the counselor or designee approves both and records the project as completed. |
Keep a copy of every form. If you have not finished by 12th grade, your government or economics teacher reminds you, and the school tracks who has completed the requirement each grading period. The principal has the final say on proposals, logs and reports.
A simple pace
The project has no hour count, but Bright Futures does: start in 9th grade, choose a project you can keep doing, and log every hour from day one so the same work counts toward the scholarship.
When hours do matter: Bright Futures and the Diploma of Distinction
Florida Bright Futures asks for 100 volunteer hours for Academic Scholars and 75 for Medallion Scholars, or 100 hours of paid work, or the two combined. Gold Seal CAPE and Gold Seal Vocational Scholars need 75 if they started 9th grade in 2024-25 or later and 30 if they started before. The Superintendent's Diploma of Distinction also requires service hours; ask your counselor for the current number. AICE and IB have their own service rules.
Looking for a project? United Way of Miami-Dade lists volunteer opportunities, and our 30 community service ideas each say who signs the hours. Check your idea with your counselor before you start.
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 Florida Bright Futures: Academic Scholars 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 community service hours do you need to graduate in Miami-Dade?
None. Students on the standard 24-credit diploma must complete a community service project approved by their school, with no set number of hours. Hours count for Bright Futures (100 for Academic Scholars, 75 for Medallion Scholars) and the Superintendent’s Diploma of Distinction.
What forms does M-DCPS use for community service?
A Project Proposal before you start and an Activity Log while you work (Form FM-6586), and a Project Summary Report when you finish. A parent or guardian signs them, and a counselor, the principal’s designee or, in 12th grade, your government or economics teacher approves them.
Do ACCEL students need the M-DCPS community service project?
No. The project is not a graduation requirement for the 18-credit ACCEL option, though Bright Futures still requires hours.
Can a Miami-Dade community service project be online?
Yes. Schools can approve online or virtual projects in advance.
Is there a class that meets the community service requirement?
Yes. Completing the half-credit social studies elective Voluntary School/Community Service also meets the graduation requirement.
Where can I do my community service in Miami-Dade?
At a nonprofit, a government agency, a school, a hospital, or a retirement organization or home, or by helping an elderly or disabled person who needs assistance. Your school must approve the project first.