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Millions of students, especially Black and Brown children in the communities most affected by the coronavirus crisis, job loss, and the nation’s racial reckoning, have been feeling disconnected and distressed as schools reopened this fall in what was a “historically chaotic” school year.

This fall, Communities In Schools® (CIS) is working in schools and beyond the classroom to ensure all students have the same opportunity to succeed, whether they are learning at school or at home. CIS affiliates across the country are reengaging with students and connecting them with local resources to ensure that their basic physical, social, emotional, and educational needs are met.

Schools are the heart of every community. When they closed, it disrupted student learning and cut kids off from basic supports like meals, clothing, housing assistance, and medical care. It also separated students from the caring adults inside schools who supported their emotional well-being. Now as schools begin to reopen – whether in person or virtual – we’ll still be there, by their side, helping them realize their full potential.

Student reengagement must focus on creating equitable conditions for learning in (and out of) schools.

Communities In Schools® (CIS™) will do whatever it takes to help students reengage in learning, recover from the emotional trauma of the last several months, as well as reimagine their learning environments so they’re safe, effective, and equitable. Through the Summer and into the school year, CIS will continue to connect students with community resources like food, housing support, health care, materials to help them to continue their learning, and emotional support. CIS will continue to be a constant presence in the lives of our students and their families. Here are 6 ways to reduce COVID-19 learning loss and to supplement virtual learning as kids prepare for a school year either in the classroom or virtually.

At Communities In Schools® (CIS™), the majority of students we serve are children of color and children living in poverty. Our mission is to surround them with a community of support to empower them to succeed in school and in life, despite immediate and systemic barriers. There are several ways to support these youth and their futures, one of the key ways is to donate.  In his recent newsletter, New York Times opinion columnist Nicholas Kristof recommended Communities In Schools as an organization where readers can make a meaningful donation to support Black Lives Matter and racial equality. Read his full newsletter here and learn how you can get involved.

The spread of COVID-19 in the United States has presented an unprecedented challenge to all communities, and particularly students and families in rural regions have uniquely been impacted in three ways - economic vulnerability, access to healthcare, and persistent levels of poverty. Communities In Schools is working to help those we serve combat these issues.

For many young people, social distancing means missing milestones and public recognition of their academic achievements. As students begin to wrap-up their final months of remote classes, Communities In Schools ® (CIS) affiliates across the country are finding creative ways to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of our students.

During a normal academic year, 22 million students rely on schools for access to regular meals. Now with students out of the classroom, Communities In Schools ® (CIS) affiliates across the country are working with community partners to provide food and essential items to those students and their families.