ABOUT US

Communities In Schools started in Georgia over 30 years ago and is now the nation’s leading dropout prevention organization, serving over one million youth in 25 states and the District of Columbia.  ICF International recently completed a comprehensive five-year evaluation, comparing the results to over 1,600 studies screened by the Department of Education’s What Works Clearinghouse.  ICF concluded that the Communities In Schools model is cost effective, reduces dropout rates and increases graduation rates.

In Henry County

The CIS model has been implemented in all 11 middle schools if Henry County since August 2012. Graduation Coaches in these middle schools have been re-assigned to take on the responsibilities of CIS Site Coordinators.

CIS has collaborated with the United Way and Parent Services Project by launching a series of one-day workshops that engage parents in the community. The Parent Leadership Institute covers core topics such as: strategic planning for yourself and your family; understanding family support principles and strategies; leadership techniques in diverse settings; understanding and influencing school systems; and organizing for change.

CIS-Henry has forged a partnership with an already-established after-school program from Family Support Circle, Inc. in order to expand services to Hampton and Luella Middle Schools, with plans to offer a summer program in 2013.

Through an AmeriCorps grant, CIS-Henry has placed 5 part-time tutors in middle schools. These tutors offer reading and math tutoring, mentoring, and other support to our middle school graduation coaches and teachers.

Our Mission

CIS Co-founders (l-r) Neil Shorthouse, Bill Milliken and the late David Lewis

Communities In Schools surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. The nation-wide network of nonprofit organizations focuses on improving student and school success by providing needed support and services to students and schools. Our goal is to support youth, improve graduation rates, academic achievement and job and post-secondary school readiness.

Communities In Schools believes that programs don’t change kids, relationships do. Our philosophy is embedded in the CIS five basics for kids©, which focus on building a supportive environment for children and youth to help them thrive and be successful. The CIS five basics listed below were adopted by America’s Promise when it started in 1997.

Our History

Communities In Schools, an independent nonprofit corporation focused on school successand dropout prevention, has its roots in Georgia. In the early 70’s, Bill Milliken, Neil Shorthouse and David Lewis established Cities In Schools in Atlanta as a private/public partnership to help urban kids graduate from high school and plan successful futures. Years later the name was changed to Communities In Schools (CIS).

The Communities In Schools national office provides detailed information on the network. Communities In Schools of Georgia continues to be an innovator in the CIS network and developed the Performance Learning Centers® (PLCs).  The success of our PLC  initiative has led to the program now being expanded to other CIS communities throughout the United States.

The State Office

Communities In Schools of Georgia, the state CIS organization, provides services to communities seeking to improve outcomes for students and schools in their communities. CIS provides communities with support in developing programs and services to combat the problems of school failure and dropouts in their schools. CIS of GA supports the work of local CIS affiliates, and Performance Learning Centers in Georgia. Our network affiliates can call on Communities In Schools of Georgia for technical support in the following areas:

Communities In Schools of Georgia, the state CIS organization, provides services to communities seeking to improve outcomes for students and schools in their communities. CIS provides communities with support in developing programs and services to combat the problems of school failure and dropouts in their schools. CIS of GA supports the work of local CIS affiliates, and Performance Learning Centers in Georgia. Our network affiliates can call on Communities In Schools of Georgia for technical support in the following areas:

Our Beliefs

CIS believes every child needs and deserves the five basics©:

 

Video: "Bill Milliken and Communities in Schools - Never Give Up On A Child"