Closing The Student Academic Achievement Gap
Communities In Schools works inside schools to improve the academic success of students at-risk of dropping out. Through tutoring, mentoring, resourcing, and encouragement, CIS is preparing students to learn, empowering them with what they need for success, and ensuring they are building skills to achieve in the classroom. Our staff works with students and teachers to improve the academic results of at-risk students. Studies show CIS students have higher academic success than students who do not.
For every $1 of state funding invested in CIS, an additional $3.00 was raised by local CIS affiliates.
Fighting Chronic Absenteeism Among Students Who Need It Most
Communities In Schools is focused on student and parent engagement to combat chronic absenteeism. Students need to attend school to learn. CIS, who works directly with students at-risk of dropping out, targets student and parent engagement within the school to impact and track their attendance. Through reengagement programing with families and students disconnected from school and experiencing chronic absenteeism, CIS helps improve student outcomes and attendance. Discovering the root problems behind individual student absenteeism is part of the approach CIS takes through our case management and integrated student supports. By identifying student barriers, addressing individual needs, and working to bring students and families into the school, CIS is improving attendance results and helping them overcome challenges.
Over 50 news stories have been written about the work CIS affiliates are doing to help Texas’ struggling students
Mental Health Struggles Are A Rising Barrier To Student Achievement
Communities In Schools is the largest provider of campus-based mental and behavioral health services in Texas. Whether a student is struggling to cope with an emotional stressor at home or dealing with complex trauma or grief, CIS provides students with mental health and wellness counseling and support. Trained CIS professionals provide trauma-informed interventions that alleviate emotional and behavioral challenges, enhance coping skills, improve student social-emotional well-being, and in turn improve academic achievement. More than 500,000 hours of school based mental health services were provided to students in the 2022-2023 school year.
More than 127,000 Students Received Individual Case-Managed Services
Communities In Schools of Texas is made up of 27 local affiliates, working directly within 1,550 public school campuses, surrounding 127,315 of Texas’ most vulnerable students with critical resources they need, and building a one-on-one mentorship relationship to ensure they are staying in school and graduating with a plan.
Across Texas, many students attend school every day without their basic needs met like food or clean clothes. They are expected to perform and learn but haven’t slept or eaten. CIS services reach into the lives of these students, identify their struggles, meet their needs, and ensure they are staying on the path to learn and graduate with a plan to achieve in life. We place an emphasis on leading students to post-secondary pathways and helping them get there.
The demand for CIS’ integrated student support programming continues to rise. As student achievement gaps continue to increase for students from low income families and minority communities, the need for targeted improvement is great. Chronic absenteeism has never been a bigger issue for Texas schools. CIS services directly increase student attendance results. The opportunity to turn this tide and impact at-risk student achievement exists. Enabling students and families to engage with school and improve student academic achievement, attendance, and mental wellness is why CIS is here.
Because of this, now is a critical time for the State of Texas to increase its investment into Communities In School in the next biennium.