This book shows how schools can provide services to all members of the community, in addition to focusing on the educational needs of the children. Eleven chapters discuss various aspects of what it takes to transform a school into a community learning center. Chapter 1 discusses underlying assumptions about change and the need for planning. Chapter 2 asks why changes are needed, what the vision of the community learning center should be, and how the operation of such centers and differs from traditional schools. Chapter 3 discusses how authority is distributed among administrators, teachers, and parents, and accountability issues. Chapter 4 considers strategies for parental empowerment and involvement in the learning community. Chapter 5 explores the notion of a curriculum in which resources from the community are integrated into teaching and learning processes. Chapter 6 discusses issues involving technology in education. Chapter 7 focuses on collaboration and gives examples. Chapter 8 defines community and community development, and talks about community rebuilding. In chapter 9, different year-round schedule designs and their impact on the community are considered. Chapter 10 looks at adult literacy and life-long learning. Finally, chapter 11 explores the alternative concept of collaborative leadership. Chapters conclude with a reference list. An appendix contains resources for community learning centers. (RT)