For many schools, the most pressing concern is helping families meet basic needs. Between 2007 and 2009, according to the Brookings Institution, the number of people who live in poverty increased by 4.9 million. Brookings reported that between 1999 and 2009, two thirds of the increase in poverty occurred in the suburbs. With poverty and social issues on the rise, schools are stepping in to act as health clinics, parent education centers, greenmarkets, and more. Some schools are even feeding kids three meals a day. The author discusses how schools are doing it.