At the Thomas Gardner Extended Services School in Boston, parents can attend workshops on topics such as immigration law, take English as a Second Language classes, or sign up for a parenting course. A thrift store with a career clothing section, and an employment preparation program, help parents of students at the O'Farrell Community School for Advanced Academic Studies in San Diego improve their own lives. And Stanley Elementary School in Wichita, Kansas, is open from 7 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week, and includes such elements as a county library and a senior center within its walls.

These are just three of the schools being highlighted by a multi-year public service advertising campaign sponsored by the Children's Aid Society, the Coalition for Community Schools and the Advertising Council, as Community Schools for Excellence. These are public schools that partner with community organizations such as the United Way, government agencies, or local, national, or corporate philanthropies and funders to provide extended hours, expanded learning opportunities for students and their families, or on-site medical, dental and psychological services.

The goal of the ad campaign is to increase awareness about community schools nationwide, and to mobilize parents to help create community schools in their neighborhoods. With services and hours determined by the needs of the families in the community, community schools can vary widely in their programs and their approaches. But they all are designed with academic achievement in mind, with services and supports geared towards supporting children so they are able to be better learners.

The first community school was born in 1992 from a partnership between the Children's Aid Society and the New York City Board of Education. Today, the Children's Aid Society operates eight community schools in Manhattan and the Bronx. They have shown tangible results including improved academic performance, better attendance and health, greater parental involvement and a more positive learning environment. The community school model is being used in dozens of schools nationwide.

Meeting Community Needs
Each community school caters to the specific needs of the families in its community. A school may offer programs ranging from early childhood to adult education, bringing every member of a family into the school. They also strengthen communities by bringing together local organizations to serve kids' all-around needs.

"Community schools may hold the key to our future educational challenges," says Philip Coltoff, executive director and CEO of the Children's Aid Society. The structured after-school activities fill a gap for many children who are unsupervised once the school day ends. They also respond to research that shows kids who are not involved in after-school activities are more likely to drop out of school, get involved with drugs and become teen parents.

Perhaps the most innovative aspect of community schools is the consolidation of services within the school walls. Instead of receiving referrals to outside services, kids can visit a dentist, a doctor or a psychologist on the spot. The model is designed to keep kids focused on learning and teachers focused on teaching. "Community schools provide everything necessary for a child's development, all in one place," says Peggy Conlon, Ad Council President and CEO.

New Ad Campaign: "Kids Won't Leave"
The 60-second TV spot, "Kids Won't Leave," depicts a busy evening inside a community school. A principal walks through the halls and watches various activities taking place: an orchestra rehearses, an art class paints and a doctor examines a child. With the tag line of "We can't get the kids to go home," the public service announcement (PSA) encourages viewers to learn more about community schools by calling 1-877-LOVE-2-LEARN.

Adults who call the toll-free number will receive information on how to help create a community school in their neighborhood. Says Conlon, "Not only do the PSAs raise awareness of the existence of community schools, they also inspire parents to bring community schools into their own local areas."

Materials for the campaign also include a 30-, 20- and 10-second TV PSAs, radio spots and print PSAs. The Ad Council distributed the PSAs to nearly 600 TV stations in the top 30 markets, 11,000 radio stations, and nearly 11,000 newspapers and magazines nationwide.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala joined education leaders and advocates of community schools at the National Press Club on May 31, for the announcement of the new campaign. Community Schools for Excellence joins Connect for Kids as part of the Ad Council's Commitment 2000 campaign on issues affecting children and families.

• The School of the 21st Century (21C) is a community school model that has been around since 1988, emphasizing a full range of services for children and their families beginning at birth.
• The Ad Council offers more information on Community Schools for Excellence and other public service advertising campaigns.
• The Children's Aid Society is one of the nation's oldest and largest child welfare agencies in the country.
• The Coalition for Community Schools brings together local, state and national organizations that represent individuals and groups engaged in creating and sustaining community schools.