Arlington, VA (PRWEB) November 07, 2013 -- Today’s release of the 2013 National Assessment of Educational Progress shows little improvement, and continued cause for concern. Average scores in reading and math have made minor gains across the nation, yet the achievement gap experienced little improvement. Moreover, approximately 1.2 million students are dropping out of school each year with poor and minority students making up a disproportionate share of this number.
“As the nation's leading dropout prevention organization, Communities In Schools (CIS) helps to alleviate the achievement gap in our nation’s schools,” said Dan Cardinali, President of Communities In Schools. “We are disappointed that no real progress was made in narrowing the achievement gap between white and minority students.”
Communities In Schools works within the public school system, determining student needs and establishing relationships with local businesses, social service agencies, health care providers, and parent and volunteer organizations to provide resources that address the unmet needs of kids most at risk of dropping out. Integrating these student services empowers young people to focus on learning.
As a result of CIS’s tailored and proven approach, 99 percent of potential dropouts stayed in school and 93 percent of eligible seniors graduated on time. In addition, a higher percentage of fourth- and eighth- grade students reached proficiency in reading and math.
A poll recently commissioned by CIS showed that 83 percent of the public supports bringing community resources inside public schools to help individual students in need and prevent them from dropping out of school.
“I urge Congress and the Administration to support integrated student services and evidence-based programs to ensure students succeed in school and graduate with the skills they need to achieve in life,” said Cardinali.
About Communities In Schools
Communities In Schools surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Through a school-based site coordinator, Communities In Schools connects students and their families to critical community resources, tailored to local needs. Working in over 2,400 schools and community-based sites, in the most challenged communities in 27 states and the District of Columbia, Communities In Schools serves more than 1.2 million young people and their families every year. It has been shown through an independent evaluation to be the nation’s only dropout prevention organization proven to both increase graduation rates and reduce dropout rates. Visit our website at http://www.communitiesinschools.org.
Dan Fuller, Vice President, Legislative Relations, Communities In Schools, http://www.communitiesinschools.org, +1 (703) 518-2556, [email protected]
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