Gov. Moore Launches Service Year Option, First-in-the-Nation Public Service Year Program for High School Graduates

The Service Year Option is a service opportunity for young adults who recently completed high school. Members earn at least $15 an hour and work at least 30 hours a week. Members gain both hard and soft skills through a service placement aligned with their area of interest, in addition to working with support coaches to develop and refine their post-service plans—whether they include college, career, or continued service.

Maryland Corps is a service opportunity for people of all ages. Like the Service Year Option, members earn a minimum of $15 dollars an hour working in organizations that provide job training and professional development. Program partnerships with both Maryland’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities and community colleges provide an additional level of collaboration and support for members, in addition to  alignment with skilled trades and apprenticeship programs to facilitate transition into continued education or the workforce.

Following completion of their service year, participants in both programs will earn a completion award of $6,000 that may be accessed as a direct payment or as a deposit into a Maryland 529 Education Account for those pursuing their studies.

“Today, I am proud to be here to help bring together public servants in every beautiful sense of that phrase. We share a common belief in the power of service to change lives and improve our society,” said First Lady Dawn Moore. “Maryland is ready to lead, and Marylanders are ready to serve. This is only the beginning. Thank you for helping us build a state that serves.”

Governor Moore signed the Serving Every Region Through Vocational Exploration Act, also known as the SERVE Act, into law in April. The law created the Service Year Option, established the Department of Service and Civic Innovation, and adjusted the provisions of Maryland Corps to bring the program to life. Since the passage of the SERVE Act, the department worked diligently to recruit both program participants and program host partners.

“I was honored to play a leading role in drafting the SERVE Act and ensuring Maryland led the way in removing barriers to service,” said Senator Mary Washington. “As Maryland proudly launches its Service Year Option and Maryland Corps, I am excited to move closer to the promise of a pathway to develop our future leaders regardless of their backgrounds, and promoting a culture of giving back to the community.”

Members participating in today’s launch applied to the program through the Maryland Serves application portal. Host organizati​ons include nonprofit organizations, for-profit companies, public agencies, and schools that cover the education, health, public safety, climate, conservation, public service, historic trades, and information technology sectors.

“As a longtime champion of service and civic engagement, I celebrate the launch of the Service Year Option and Maryland Corps as it signals a new era of citizen responsibility and community service,” said Delegate Dana Stein. “It invites us to actively participate in shaping the future of our state, fostering a sense of duty and commitment to our shared home.”

To learn more about the Service Year Option and Maryland Corps programs, please visit dsci.maryland.gov.