With the nation's recent emphasis on student test scores, The Children's Aid Society fears that schools are missing the opportunity to be the institutions that help turn out successful young people. School climate and connectedness are the key ingredients for creating healthy schools that produce successful students. These factors are worthy of attention at every level. Bringing the community into schools and making schools the service point for youth development and support services are essential elements of this approach. Based on 13 years of experience in developing and operating community schools, The Children's Aid Society offers the following policy recommendations for supporting community schools: (1) Adopt a Whole-Child Approach to School Reform that Incorporates Critical Roles for Families and Communities; (2) Include Improved School Climate and Increased Student Connectedness as Fundamental Pieces of any School Reform Effort; (3) Align Resources with Needs; (4) Align Goals Across Agencies and Provide Incentives to Reward Improved Coordination; and (5) Fight for Local, State and Federal Community Schools Initiatives. (Contains 17 notes.)