The current economic environment has impacted American families and the schools their children attend. Families are dealing with joblessness, increased poverty and hunger, less access to medical care, increased mental health issues, and greater instability in the family unit. Schools work with more and more students from families dealing with these issues and, at the same time, must deal with declining budgets, and fewer personnel and services for students and their families. The long-term impact on schools is uncertain. Some suggest that the decline in school funding will lead to "reinventing" schools characterized by innovation. Others suggest that students from less affluent families will have reduced access to a quality educational experience. What is clear is that the current economy has significantly impacted schools, their programs and services, the families in their school community, and the employees who work in the schools. It is important to note that courageous principals throughout the country continue to work every day to serve their students and the families in their school community. (Contains 13 online resources.)