Causes: Education, Educational Services

Mission:

Communities In Schools of Pittsburgh-Allegheny County (CIS) is a private, non-profit dropout prevention organization that is an affiliate of the nation''s largest stay-in-school network. The CIS Mission is to help young people successfully learn, stay in school, and prepare for life. We achieve our mission through working in public schools, facilitating after-school programs, and through CIS-operated, state-approved non-traditional alternative educational academies.

CIS believes that every child needs and deserves:

1. A personal one-on-one relationship with a caring adult 2. A safe place to learn and grow3. A healthy start and a healthy future4. A marketable skill to use upon graduation5. A chance to give back to peers and the community

Results: Communities In Schools National recently released initial results from the midpoint of its five-year longitudinal study conducted by ICF International. One of the most notable findings is that the CIS Model is proven to significantly decrease dropout rates, increase graduation rates and increase proficiency in math and reading scores. The complete study can be found on the front page of our website: www.cispac.org. A sample of results from students attending our CIS Academies: * Students achieved an average increase of 3 grade levels in reading and 2.5 grade levels in math (2008). * Of the students completing our Academy programs, on average, 60% continued to post-secondary education; 38% entered full-time employment, and 2% entered the military.

Target demographics: At heart, Communities In Schools is a dropout prevention organization. CIS works with children and youth from 3rd grade through age 21 living in Allegheny County.

Direct beneficiaries per year: Over 2,700 children and youth (2008-2009)

Geographic areas served: Allegheny County

Programs: CIS provides the link between schools and the community by bringing caring volunteer resources into the schools to address children’s unmet needs. CIS in-school services are available to any school to help improve their students’ attendance, academics, parental involvement, and community outreach. Services can be delivered to an entire school or to an educationally at-risk student population. The services are delivered through a CIS coordinator, who works in the partnering school. Whether a student needs tutoring, mentoring, job readiness, job placement, new eyeglasses, nutrition services, counseling, or any other service, the CIS coordinator identifies the child’s needs and appropriate resources available in the community, and follows up to make sure the student gets what he or she needs. Current schools for 2009-2010 include:

• Allegheny Valley School District, Springdale Jr/Sr High School
• Pittsburgh Public Schools, Pittsburgh Allegheny Traditional
• Pittsburgh Public Schools, Pittsburgh Rooney
• Pittsburgh Public Schools, Pittsburgh Westinghouse