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Addressing the American Federation of Schools convention after her election as president, Randi Weingarten urged the dramatic expansion of the community school model:

Can you imagine a federal law that promoted community schools — schools that serve the neediest children by bringing together under one roof all the services and activities they and their families need?…Imagine schools that are open all day and offer after-school and evening recreational activities, child care and preschool, tutoring and homework assistance. Schools that include dental, medical and counseling clinics.

Robert Podiscio of the Core Knoweldge Blog worries that such schools could relegate education to the margins while becoming "social service agencies of last resort." This is definitely a danger--if schools lack the resources and support to carry out their broader role. Pondiscio thoughtfully describes what often happens when schools must redeploy their existing resources to fill the void left by policymakers who blithely de-fund programs for communities in greatest need. (Yes, teachers and administrators who must somehow ensure their students are properly clothed and fed have less time to think about teaching.)

By contrast, the community school model Weingarten evokes assumes far better coordination among robust programs that collectively improve the lot of American youth. In no way does the community schools model signal a retreat from ambitious academic goals. To the contrary, well-designed community schools across the country boast a track record of improving academic achievement.

As with any promising reform, the community school model will fail if schools must again rob Peter to pay Paul...

For more on community schools, have a look at the Coalition for Community Schools website.