The Intersection of School and Community

By Lisbeth Schorr

Everyone working today at the many places where schools intersect with community activities, services, and supports is caught up in a whirlwind of exploding pressures and opportunities. Increasing public and philanthropic resources are becoming available to fund a wide array of activities that make use of school facilities, school legitimacy, and school resources. The new funding comes with new demands for accountability. Legislators, business people, taxpayers, boards of foundations, and local agencies from United Ways to settlement houses want to know that their money is being used to achieve results. They are pressing for evidence that their investments have an impact on outcomes.

Yet there is little clarity or consensus about the pathways to improved outcomes, how roles, resources, and responsibilities should be allocated, or even the extent to which new demands for accountability are consistent with achieving social purposes.

From recent experience with community efforts to strengthen and expand support for youngsters and their families, neighborhoods, and schools, I offer five lessons that—while still tentative—seem...