The mission of Communities In Schools (CIS) is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. CIS partners with educators, students, and parents to identify needs of students who are at-risk of dropping out of school. By engaging community resource partners, CIS customizes learning supports for students and provides individual case management. CIS monitors student level data and tracks education outcomes. The CIS program model has six components:
- Academic support including tutoring and extended learning time
- College and career readiness including pre-employment preparation
- Enrichment activities including mentoring
- Health and human services including mental health and basic needs
- Parent and family involvement including home visits
- Supportive guidance and counseling
Proven Dropout Prevention Strategies
The Texas Education Agency focuses state and federal resources on identifying and replicating proven strategies for dropout prevention and recovery. Research indicates that providing mentors or adult advocates for students at-risk of dropping out of school is an effective dropout prevention strategy to help students address learning, social, and emotional needs that are barriers to academic achievement. This is one of the proven strategies used in the CIS program. CIS also provides targeted academic support to address skill gaps and enrich the learning environment for students who are off-track and struggling.
- 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
- 28 local CIS affiliates (grantees) operated CIS programs statewide
- 652 campuses, 71 counties, and 130 school districts served with both state and local funding (2011-2012)
- 603,697 students were served with school-wide, level one, CIS services
- 61,972 students were served with case management, level two, CIS services (2011-2012)
- $217 state cost per case managed student
Student Performance (Case Managed Students) 2011-2012:
- 98% stayed in school
- 94% promoted to the next grade
- 92% eligible to graduate, graduated
- 87% targeted for academics, improved
- 75% targeted for attendance, improved
- 92% targeted for behavior, improved
According to a legislatively authorized study, Best Practices in Dropout Prevention in Texas (2008), CIS was found to be one of only three best practice dropout prevention programs in the nation. The study found that the following strategies were commonly used by the programs with the strongest positive outcomes:
- School-community collaboration
- Safe learning environments
- Family engagement
- Mentoring/tutoring
- Alternative schooling
- Active learning
Significant findings from the Evaluation of CIS of Texas (2008) include:
- General supportive guidance is associated with lower odds of dropping out of school, greater odds of being promoted, greater odds of staying in school, and is positively associated with better attendance rates.
- CIS has been successful in engaging parents.
- The CIS model is being implemented with fidelity throughout all CIS Texas affiliates.
- The CIS State Office at TEA provides significant management and technical support to local affiliates and is credited with the implementation of a statewide CIS program that is well managed and of high quality.
- FY 2013 - (State) $10,000,000, (Federal*) $4,842,341
- FY 2012 - (State) $10,000,000, (Federal*) $4,842,342
- FY 2011 - (State) $16,130,976, (Federal*) $4,842,341
- FY 2010 - (State) $16,130,976, (Federal*) $4,842,342
* Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Texas Education Agency:
Division of Federal and State Education Policy
CIS of Texas
CIS Program Specialist Julie Wayman
512.936.6060