District News Roundup

New York City Schools Chancellor Joseph A. Fernandez has announced plans to institute a mandatory youth-service program in three city schools.

The pilot program is slated to begin sometime this school year at three so-farunnamed high schools in the district. The program calls for students to initiate and run their own volunteer projects to earn credits toward graduation.

Mr. Fernandez is hoping to receive a $300,000 grant from the Surdna Foundation to begin the program. A spokesman for the foundation would not confirm such a grant, but said that members of the philanthropy's board were...