Communities In Schools Expands Services for Schools Statewide

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT: Tori Simmons
tori@gebencommunication.com
440-309-8469

Communities In Schools Expands Services for Schools Statewide
The expansion follows the nonprofit seeing increased demand for schools and students

 

COLUMBUS, OHIO (October 15, 2020) — Today, Communities In Schools of Central Ohio announced that it will be expanding to provide services and programs to schools across the state of Ohio. As a result, the nonprofit is rebranding its name to Communities In Schools of Ohio (CIS) to better align with the expansion.

CIS is a nonprofit organization that works with public schools and charter schools to help students remain in school and achieve academic success. The expansion follows an increased demand for the nonprofit’s services to reduce non-academic barriers, address inequities, and support social-emotional needs. These challenges have been significantly underscored by increased needs as the state navigates the pandemic.

“Nationally, K-12 students are disengaged and dropping out of school at alarming rates, which has been exacerbated due to the COVID-19 pandemic” said Amy Gordon, Executive Director at CIS. “By expanding to reach students outside of Central Ohio, we’re helping Ohio’s students find the resources to stay in school and increase their chances for long-term success.”

The expansion includes a presence in communities such as Dayton and the Cleveland area. In the 2020-2021 school year, CIS will serve 37 schools across five communities in Ohio. This is a 185% increase from (serving 13 schools in one community in) the 2016-2017 school year.

In the 2019-2020 school year, CIS served more than 13,000 students and 4,500 parents in 27 schools across the state. The nonprofit, with its team of 41 full-time school site coordinators, has seen 83% of its focus students improve in academics, 71% improve in attendance, and 99% of CIS students stay in school.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, CIS has seen an increase in needs including access to technology for online school, basic “necessities such as food, housing and daily supplies, as well as a significant increase in social-emotional and mental health supports.

For more information about Communities In Schools of Ohio, visit ciskids.org.