Celebrating President Jimmy Carter’s Legacy and Transformative Impact on Communities In Schools

Communities In Schools® (CIS®), the nation’s leading provider of K-12 school-based integrated student supports (ISS), joins the nation in celebrating the life and legacy of 39th President Jimmy Carter.   

While he was widely regarded as a humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize winner, he is also known to our organization as one of the driving forces behind CIS’ evolution from a grassroots nonprofit based in Atlanta to a national organization and educational movement serving millions of students annually.   

“Former President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter took us from a small local program in Atlanta to become a national movement. The Carter’s support for Communities In Schools and education equity is a pivotal moment in the history of CIS and one of the reasons we have been able to serve millions of students nationwide for nearly 50 years. Our hearts and prayers are with the family as they both grieve and celebrate an amazing life well lived.”   -Bill Milliken, Founder and Vice Chairman, Communities In Schools  

“Communities In Schools has forever been intertwined with the legacy of Jimmy Carter, who was a staunch advocate for our mission to remove barriers for students. Although he has passed away at the age of 100, his influence lives on through the millions of lives enriched by his dedicated leadership. Jimmy Carter's unwavering support for CIS has helped propel our commitment to empowering students, and his legacy continues to inspire our work every day.” -Rey Saldaña, President and CEO, Communities In Schools 

The CIS integrated student supports model offers a step-by-step back-to-school path for those who face issues that keep them from attending school. Currently, CIS provides a wide range of services to more than two million students across 3,460 schools nationwide. We honor and acknowledge President Carter for the lessons and lasting impact he and his family have left for generations to come.  

Read more on President Jimmy Carter's Transformative Impact on Communities In Schools.

Upon entering the White House in 1977, we helped Bill [Milliken] take his work to a national level and have continued our interest in the years since. Having helped get Communities In Schools off to a good start, it has been a joy to watch it become an important force for change. Our affection for and commitment to Bill Milliken and Neil Shorthouse have never wavered – they are truly life companions for both of us. Bill’s faithful insistence that ‘programs don’t change people – relationships do’ has been a constant reminder and inspiration for us all in our endeavors.

-President Jimmy Carter, excerpt from The Last Dropout