The Community School in the Nation. Community Issues.

The major stimulus of the community school movement is a general dissatisfaction with the existing public education system, the greatest thrust having come from the minority groups. The two major difficulties appear to be the creation of independent schools or districts under local community control, and the development of adequate funding resources once independence is established. All of the private community schools are facing financial crisis--Federal funds, though a source of potential support, are insufficient to satisfy expansion. Legislation in several states allowing state aid to private schools may ultimately provide the largest potential source. Both groups of community school activists--those who seek change in the system, and those who have abandoned the system--have been faced with great adversity in their cause; there is, though, a mounting commitment to the movement. The movement seriously questioned whether public school systems are effective. The movement fosters an attitude of public accountability for professional performance. Various groups no longer accept an arrangement whereby schools function isolated from the public, oblivious to its needs and demands. From the experience of community control schools, there exists only one of several possible future options--only city-wide total system reform offers a viable alternative. (RJ)