Today's schools face challenges that go beyond those of the 20th Century, in addition to the more recent impact of No Child Left Behind. Common core standards and stipulations found in the recent Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) call for new academic programs and ways for teachers to implement them. Integral to the ESSA are techniques for achieving social equity, equality of learning opportunity, and "wrap-around support systems for vulnerable communities. " The community support systems

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... t can include what sociologists call the social bond theory. For schools and teachers to make those goals achievable within classrooms will require more emphasis on project-based teaching and learning. An Editorial based on some past experiences and planning for what may be coming next. ABSTRACT Today's schools face challenges that go beyond those of the 20 th Century, in addition to the more recent impact of No Child Left Behind. Common core standards and stipulations found in the recent Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) call for new academic programs and ways for teachers to implement them. Integral to the ESSA are techniques for achieving social equity, equality of learning opportunity, and "wraparound support systems for vulnerable communities." The community support systems concept can include what sociologists call the social bond theory. For schools and teachers to make those goals achievable within classrooms will require more emphasis on projectbased teaching and learning.