COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF CENTRAL TEXAS

IN THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, CISCT PROVIDED INTENSIVE, ONGOING SUPPORT FOR 9,367 STUDENTS, AND PROVIDED SHORT-TERM SERVICES FOR AN ADDITIONAL 68,087 STUDENTS. THE CENTERPIECE OF THE CIS MODEL IS OUR SOCIAL SERVICE STAFF WHO ESTABLISH ONE-ON-ONE RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CREATE A SERVICE PLAN BASED ON EACH CHILD'S NEEDS, AND THEN MAKE THAT PLAN HAPPEN. WITH THE HELP OF OUR SOCIAL SERVICE TEAM WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING OR SUPPORT GROUPS, BASIC LIFE SKILLS, TUTORING, MENTORING, GED CLASSES,FAMILY CARE COORDINATION, PARENTING CLASSES, OR ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP THE CHILD SUCCEED. ADDITIONAL SERVICES INCLUDE HOME-BASED INTENSIVE SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, A LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL-AGE, AT-RISK MALES, LITERACY SERVICES FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY, SCHOOL-BASED WORKSHOPS AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION TO KEEP CHILDREN "SAFE, STRONG, AND FREE, AND SUPPORTING PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS IN THEIR JOURNEY TO ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH SCHOOL-BASED AND PROPERTY-BASED EDUCATIONAL, ENRICHMENT, AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS SHOWED THAT THE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT APPROACH HAS PRODUCED THE STRONGEST REDUCTION IN DROPOUT RATES OF ANY EXISTING FULLY-SCALED DROPOUT PREVENTION PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN EVALUATED, AND THAT THE CIS MODEL IS EFFECTIVE ACROSS STATES, SCHOOL SETTINGS (URBAN, SUBURBAN, RURAL), GRADE LEVELS AND STUDENT ETHNICITIES.