Community Schools Bring Service Under One Roof

By Dr. Marciene Mattleman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - With large numbers of low income people in urban areas, community schools are on the rise - places that educate children, and have services like teaching English to parents, and medical clinics.

"Community schools is a strategy, not a program," says Lukas Weinstein of New York's Children's Aid Society, where he directs 16 projects based on the model of the Harlem Children's Zone. Several networks of community schools have shown improved behavior, test scores, parental involvement and family stability.

In Cincinnati, where schools have health and mental health providers, the initiative is credited with helping academic achievement, a graduation rate now of 80%, and stemming flight to the suburbs. Portland, Oregon schools have a coalition with social services and business.

The Philadelphia Coalition Advocating for Public Schools, PCAPS, is in the planning process of "integrating of neighborhood and city's assets…not just after school."

Read more in the Philadelphia Public School's Notebook.