Closing The Student Academic Achievement Gap
Communities In Schools works in partnership with 180 local school districts to decrease chronic absenteeism and improve academic achievement for all students by addressing the root causes and barriers threatening a student’s academic success. Our staff works with students, families, and teachers to improve the academic results of students.
For every $1 of state funding invested in CIS, an additional $4.78 was raised by local CIS affiliates.
Fighting Chronic Absenteeism to Improve Academic Achievement
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. Through our work, CIS continues to see an increase in students experiencing a high level of stress, depression, anxiety, and trauma across all grade levels. Unfortunately, most students use maladaptive coping strategies. Younger students act out more in class, yelling at their teachers and peers and refusing to complete work or engage in class discussion. Older students experience decreased motivation, leading to disengagement and chronic absenteeism.
When we invest in our student’s mental health, we invest in our community’s future. When students’ mental health needs are met, they are more likely to fully engage in school, attend school regularly, and continue building on their academic learning and growth. 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 700,000 hours of school based mental health services were provided by CIS to students in the 2023-2024 school year.
More than 122,000 Students Received Individual Case-Managed Services
Communities In Schools of Texas is made up of 27 local affiliates, working directly within 1,447 public school campuses, surrounding 122,787 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 of Texas’ integrated student support programming continues to rise. As student achievement gaps continue to increase for students, 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 student achievement exists. Enabling students and families to engage with schools 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 Schools of Texas in the next biennium. CIS of Texas requests a $10 million increase annually to meet the growing needs of our communities, students, families, and school districts.