Monday, April 4, 2011

Communities in School: Dropping Out of Schools?

Communities in School (CIS), a proven drop-out prevention program, will be greatly affected by current legislative proposals which have “zeroed out money for the program, meaning no state general revenue for the next two fiscal years.” CIS is known for the services it provides to low-income and at-risk children and adolescents. An overarching goal of the program is successful school completion.

Licensed counselors and school social workers hired by CIS are placed in lower-income schools across Texas to help at-risk students deal with non-academic related issues (i.e.: emotional, psychological, and environmental deterrents which may thwart academic efforts), through mentorship programs, individual and group counseling sessions, and coordination of social services. One corollary program of CIS is called the ASPIRE Family Literacy program.
ASPIRE; an acronym which stands for (Achieving Success through Parental Involvement, Reading and Education) seeks to increase literacy rates within family systems, by providing educational services for the family unit. Children served in this program are between 0-7 years of age. The Success Rate of the Program is tremendous:
  • 100% of children promoted (K-2nd)
  • 97% Kindergartners – Second grade children attained end-of-year-reading standard
  • 74% preschoolers made progress on measures of pre-literacy English skills (PPVT)
  • 108 families with 165 children were served (birth-2nd grade)
  • ASPIRE parents spent an average of 37 hours engaging in their children’s classrooms *source
It’s reported that several children utilizing CIS services are political refugees coming to the US without any formal educational training. Further, populations utilizing CIS tend to be from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. It’s easy to see why a program which provides nonacademic related support would be instrumental in a successful transition into Texas public school system.

Echoing the CIS motto, “We meet kids where they are” it’s easy to see why the program is needed in school districts. What is unclear is why the 82nd legislation doesn't recognize the necessary value "in meeting kids at all?"

Click below for a brief synopsis of Communities in Schools
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30Xr87MgKmc&feature=relmfu

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