The U.S. Department of Education's 21st Century Community Learning Centers programs offers grants to thousands of schools to remain open for more hours, primarily for tutoring and mentoring. My prediction is that in the future, all schools will be open for extended hours. The need for childcare is great among families across all socioeconomic levels. What goes on in that building to combine quality education, support services, parent involvement, and community development requires more than merely extending the hours or adding on services. The next step is to encourage educational leaders to invite community agencies to become partners in operating these new, complex institutions.
Many models now exist, with the technical assistance and resources available.
We can see the emergence of creative ideas and partnerships, and in the future we can expect many more new versions and visions of community schools. References Coalition for Community Schools. Oxford University Press. The developing field of school-community initiatives. Charles Stuart Mott Foundation.