With decreasing enrollment, decreasing funding for public school education, changes in family and societal needs, and the mandates of the No Child Left Behind Act, policymakers and school leaders are wrestling with reforms to the school calendar and instructional time spent in the classroom, with the goal of increasing student achievement.…

The center, a once abandoned elementary school building in Leadville, Colorado, combines year-round preschool, day care, and before- and afterschool programs for 550 children aged 2.5 to 13. The center also helps the local high school's parenting/child development class and offers onsite family counseling by county social workers. (MLH)