Executive Summary

One out of every six students drops out of school. Odds are great that those students who leave school without a diploma will be people of color. Dropping out is the last stop on a journey through an education system that does not protect and support kids living with the weight of poverty and trauma. Communities In Schools (CIS) and Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) have a proven solution. CIS works hand-in-hand with schools to establish an integrated student supports model, surrounding kids and their families with a system of caring adults who keep students on the path to graduation.

CCSSO works with state leaders to enact change for equity in education. Together, we will transform the public education system to ensure every child can succeed. The evidence is clear: 99 percent of students receiving the most intensive level of integrated student supports remain in school throughout the academic year, and 96 percent of high school seniors graduate or receive a GED.

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Accomplishments

As our economy came to a near halt during the pandemic, many more families were tipped into crisis and the caseloads of Communities In Schools site coordinators multiplied in days, sometimes hours. Our model already reaches students beyond the school walls to ensure they are ready to learn, so we are uniquely equipped to help kids and families during this crisis. CIS launched new school and student assessments for virtual learning and rolled out a nationwide re-engagement platform focused on finding the three million students who never returned to school and helping them plug back into learning. Beyond meeting the social and emotional needs of kids and parents, CIS and our partner, CCSSO, are advocating for policies necessary to advance integrated support for all students in communities impacted by this crisis.