There is ample evidence of this from Princess Diana to Mother Theresa to the local food pantry. Comprehensive solutions will require the active support, involvement, and cooperation of the all major regional assets-public, private, government, religious, community, and education institutions. The successful development of the community's children, especially the central core's children, represents the most critical investment the region can make in itself. The investment in buildings,airports, roads,etc.is important, but a distant second. Efforts should utilize available cost-effective technology to improve productivity, lower costs and facilitate support from as wide a range of regional resources as possible.
Early intervention is most effective and the most cost-effective.
Effective efforts will have to address the environment of the students and facilitate improvements to them. Efforts within the school buildings alone are unlikely to be sufficient to sustain the children being educated there if support systems are not built for them outside the buildings. This is why narrow efforts inside the St. Louis Public School District alone can not succeed. Public schools were conceived as a way for the community to support its youth and as a necessary element to raising an educated electorate that is vital to the success of democracy. Role models, mentors, and 'leading by example' are among the best methods for teaching civics and values.