This report captures the essence of four schools in four different communities participating in a study on young immigrant children in U.S. schools. The schools were selected from a national network of schools implementing the Schools of the 21st Century (21C) program, which provides a range of services such as child care, health care, home visitations, and family support designed to enhance children’s ability to do well academically. The report examines how the schools and communities addressed the needs of growing populations of immigrant students. Researchers and fieldworkers conducted case studies involving document reviews and extensive interviews with key stakeholders. They found that communities lacked the infrastructure to help immigrants. Far fewer support services were available compared to those available for earlier immigrants. The four 21C schools were already oriented toward families and communities, with family resource centers, child care, home visitations, parenting programs, after-school care, and evening community center activities. Although there were cultural barriers to parents’ participation in the educational process, many participating educators had developed innovative ways to overcome such difficulties (e.g., meeting parents at the workplace). Portraits of the four schools provide historical perspectives, program descriptions, focal points, and challenges. (SM) (ERIC No. ED 480749)
