School-community initiatives and what they are accomplishing were studied. The methodology included on-site reviews of initiatives in five states and telephone interviews with officials from three other initiatives. Also interviewed were representatives from three corporations that collaborate with schools to provide students with work-based learning opportunities. In general, school-community initiatives have a dual goal similar to that of all schools: to enhance academic achievement and to prepare students to become self-sufficient adults. They differ from traditional schools in that they combine strategies to help children by: (1) developing innovative and nontraditional approaches that emphasize academic achievement; (2) creating links to future employment opportunities; and (3) blending community services into the school environment. For the most part, these initiatives have not been rigorously evaluated to determine their effect on student academic achievement or later success. The approach that has been evaluated is that of the career academy. A 10-year evaluation has found these school-within-a-school initiatives to be helpful for high risk students. Officials from the school-community initiatives visited as part of this study suggested that in addition to providing funding, the federal government could assume a leadership role in making information available about best practices and funding sources and by sponsoring conferences and an information clearinghouse. Appendixes contain discussions of the school and methodology of this study, business partnerships with school-community initiatives, and contact persons in the General Accounting Office. (SLD)