Communities In Schools (CIS) is the nation’s largest dropout prevention organization. For 30 years, CIS has remained focused on helping kids who are risk of dropping out stay in school and prepare for life by identifying and addressing the unmet needs of students and families – needs that, when left unanswered, contribute to the dropout rate.
CIS is active across the country, with almost 200 local affiliates serving nearly 1.2 million kids at more than 3,400 schools in 27 states and the District of Columbia. Eighty percent of students served by CIS are ethnic minorities and 85 percent qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.
Rather than duplicating services or competing with other youth-serving organizations and agencies, CIS identifies and mobilizes existing community resources and fosters cooperative partnerships for the benefit of students and families. Today, CIS is the national leader on school-based, integrated student support services. And CIS tracks outcomes for the student population it serves. In all, 80-90 percent of students tracked by CIS make better grades, stay in school and have fewer discipline problems.
For more information and updates about Lunch With A Leader®, send your name, e-mail address and telephone number to lunchwithaleader@cisnet.org.
