Monterey Peninsula Unified School District has received a $500,000 grant administered by the California Department of Education to imp

lement a service learning model for high school seniors.

The California Serves grant is administered in collaboration with California Volunteers, a state office focused on engaging people in civic action. With the grant, districts are tasked with supporting students to earn the State Seal of Civic Engagement. The grant began in May and runs through June 2027.

“This grant is a powerful investment in our students, educators and community,” said Cresta McIntosh, associate superintendent of educational services in a news release. “By integrating service learning into our high school curriculum, we’re not only enhancing instruction but also cultivating student agency, civic identity and community connection.”

The grant is specifically geared toward high school seniors in districts where over 55% of students are unduplicated pupils — students who fall into categories that make districts eligible for specific funding. These categories include English learners, foster youth and students who qualify for free and reduced lunch.

This year will mark the third cohort of districts participating in the grant, with Monterey Peninsula Unified being chosen for the first time. Based on current enrollment, the grant offerings will impact 867 seniors in the upcoming school year, 800 seniors in 2026-27 and 850 seniors in 2027-28.

Grant funds will go toward professional development and educator training, curriculum development, travel costs for student conferences and program evaluation.

Service learning will be embedded into the new 12th-grade curriculum, following the College, Career and Civic Life framework, a guide for social studies instruction that focuses on inquiry-based learning. New senior seminar courses and course revisions will also be implemented to align with State Standards for Civic Education.

The district will work with Facing History and Ourselves, a Boston-based nonprofit established in 1976 to use historical case studies as a means to create curriculum for middle and high schoolers based in empathy, ethics and anti-racism. The organization also focuses on professional development for educators to be able to better teach complex topics having to deal with past human behavior and actions.Monterey Peninsula Unified will also be working with Learner-Centered Collaborative, a research-driven nonprofit that works with districts to create more personalized and collaborative learning environments.

“This initiative reflects MPUSD’s deep commitment to equity, engagement and empowering students as active citizens,” said McIntosh. “We’re honored to be recognized and supported by the California Department of Education to lead this important work.”