Could ‘community school’ concept work in Philadelphia?

This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.

In Philadelphia, 40 percent of school-aged kids live in poverty.

One in five students has had some contact with the Department of Human Services.

The rate of chlamydia and gonorrhea among Philadelphia’s 15- to 19-year-olds is three times the national average.

In an effort to help city children achieve academically despite socioeconomic difficulties, City Council has started examining the idea of turning schools into social-service hubs.

On Wednesday, Council held its first hearing on the possibility of creating "school-based family service centers," commonly known as "community schools."

"Why should everybody have to come down to the Municipal Services Building and City Hall to get the appropriate services?" said Council President Darrell Clarke. "There’s a school in every neighborhood in Philadelphia. Why don’t we take every school … figure out a way to have the appropriate services, not just for the children, but actually for the family?"

Read the rest of this story at NewsWorks