Kharma is Committed to Helping Others
Kharma grew into a confident leader through CIS and plans to pursue a career in psychology to help others.
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Connecting Students, Schools, and Communities
There is an urgent need to respond to the state of our schools, which are experiencing deep levels of decline across multiple measures. Schools are expected to connect students to the supports and services they need to achieve inside and outside of the classroom. However, schools are not equipped with the staff or systems to meet this growing demand for whole-child supports.
This is what CIS is built for. We make those connections.
When CIS is present inside schools, we work with other support staff to bring in community resources and partners to help meet the needs of the school and of students and families. We do this through the work of our site coordinators, who have access to local resources and partners to address local needs. We take this on so school administrators can focus on running the school and teachers can focus on teaching.
The CIS Model: Integrated Student Supports
Here's How We Do It
Discover Needs
Through conversations with teachers and students—alongside robust data analysis—CIS site coordinators identify the biggest challenges facing schools and individual students.
Plan Together
CIS site coordinators work with school administrators and educators to develop a plan that prioritizes the various academic and non-academic supports that meet students' needs.
Integrate Supports
Site coordinators work with school teams every day to integrate the supports identified in the planning process. That’s how CIS becomes an integral part of a school community and students’ lives.
Monitor, Evaluate, and Adjust
CIS site coordinators work with schools to continuously monitor student and school progress, using the data and feedback to optimize results. Continuous assessment of partners and student supports helps us increase our impact.
Our Impact
CIS is making a real difference in schools around the country.
We bring the power of caring adults and much-needed resources into schools – directly to the students who need them most. Together with school administrators and educators, we put students at the center and work hard every day inside schools to respond to their needs.
99%
of our students remained in school through the end of the 2023-24 school year.
96%
of our seniors graduated or received a GED during the 2023-24 school year.
The Three Tiers of Support
CIS’ evidence-based model is a whole-school approach to deliver tiered supports that best meet the needs of the school, including those of individual students.
We provide these supports in three different tiers.
Tier I
School Level
Widely available services designed to foster a positive school climate and address school-level risk factors.
Tier II
Targeted Services
Targeted services typically provided in a group setting to students with a common need.
Tier III
Individualized Services
Intensive, individualized services typically provided in a one-on-one setting to students with highly specific needs.
Being Present Matters
Watch this video to learn how CIS works with the community to connect students to the resources and support they need to be present in school and ready to learn.
Our Work in Action
Investing in Students and Strengthening Families: CIS and Montgomery Public Schools in Action
Learn about our licensed partnership with Montgomery Public Schools and dive into the impact happening at Southlawn Middle School.
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Joab Found Hope Through CIS
Learn how CIS helped Joab believe in himself and keep going.
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Milestone Moment: CIS-AH Now Serves 115 Schools Across the Appalachian Highlands
When Communities In Schools of Appalachian Highlands (CIS-AH) opened its doors in 2012, it served just two schools in Bristol, Virginia. Today, it proudly stands beside more than 115 schools across 17 districts in Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.
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Together in Education: Harris Teeter and Communities In Schools Raise 300K for Students Across the Southeast
The "Together in Education" Round Up Campaign, which ran from July 30 through October 28, 2025, channeled those spare cents into real support through Communities In Schools (CIS), the nation's leading provider of K–12 school-based integrated student supports. Funds also benefited Classroom Central, The Salvation Army, and Alliance for a Healthier Generation, reaching CIS National and 19 affiliates across the Southeast region.
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A Chance Encounter Changed Leanna's Life
Learn how CIS changed Leanna’s path, fueling her journey to leadership and community impact.
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How CIS Helped Eliza Find Herself
With CIS support, Eliza found her voice, built confidence, and chose a path true to herself.
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How Jose Found His Confidence
Learn how CIS helped Jose grow into a confident student and leader.
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Morgan is Finishing Strong with CIS
With CIS support, Morgan overcame challenges, stayed present, and is now on track to graduate.
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How CIS Helped Shape Leland's Future
Written in his own words, Leland found support through CIS and will pursue his dreams at SNU.
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Bringing the Band Back Together: Communities In Schools Legacy Event in Partnership with Creative Artists Agency
Wednesday, February 18, marked an unforgettable evening at Creative Artists Agency's (CAA) offices in Los Angeles. Communities In Schools (CIS), the nation’s leading provider in integrated student supports, gathered its community — educators, alumni, advocates, board members, funders, and champions — to celebrate five decades of impact and to look ahead toward the next 50 years with renewed commitment and purpose.
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Kiana's Balancing Act
With support from CIS, Kiana overcame the challenges of young parenthood and is now preparing for college.
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The CIS Effect Takes on Capitol Hill
For three days in early March, more than 20 leaders from the Communities In Schools (CIS) network converged on Washington, D.C., for the organization's annual Capitol Hill Days. From March 2–4, affiliate leaders walked the halls of Congress with a powerful message: integrated student supports work—and the evidence now proves it.
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Showing Up In Times of Uncertainty: CIS Launches Emergency Fund to Support Students and Families
Last fall, as the federal shutdown disrupted essential services and paychecks, Communities In Schools responded with urgency and compassion.
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Pledge to Be Present: Inspiring Students to Show Up This School Year
When Communities In Schools launched the Being Present Matters Campaign in 2024, the goal was clear: raise awareness about chronic absenteeism and remind students, families, and communities why showing up to school matters. Now, in the campaign's second year, CIS has taken that message even further with the Pledge to Be Present initiative—a creative, high-impact way to engage students and build a culture of accountability around school attendance.
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A Day in the Life of a CIS Site Coordinator: Shelby Clements
At Communities In Schools, our Site Coordinators are on the front lines every day, helping students navigate challenges, build skills, and thrive in school. For Shelby Clements, a Site Coordinator at CIS of the Dallas Region, every day is a balance of flexibility, support, and relationship-building.
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How Communities In Schools Partners with Schools to Support Students
At Communities In Schools, student success is built on strong, intentional partnerships. CIS Site Coordinators are embedded on school campuses, working alongside teachers, administrators, and staff to remove barriers to learning and ensure students receive the support they need—when they need it.
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Driven to Give: CIS Network Delivers Warmth and Essential Support This Holiday Season
This holiday season, Communities In Schools affiliates and licensed partners across the country are demonstrating what it means to be driven to give. As the need for shoes, clothing, food and essential items grows (according to national reports and confirmed by those in the communities we serve) our network is stepping up with unwavering generosity, hosting drives and changing lives.
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Ready, Set, Learn Back-to-School Tour Full of Surprises, Supplies and Memorable Moments
With stops in Houston, Nashville, Jacksonville and Charlotte, the “Ready, Set, Learn” Back-to-School Tour aimed to remove barriers to learning, address chronic absenteeism and ensure students and families started the school year with the resources they needed.
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CIS of Greater Tarrant County Is Present for More Students and Families with New Center for Student Support
Communities In Schools of Greater Tarrant County recently celebrated the opening of its new Center for Student Support. A longtime dream of the organization, the new center is expected to transform the community and improve the lives of students and families, offering various resources and services to the community, including a training center, a mental health counseling center, and a fresh food pantry.
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Investing in Back-to-School Readiness at All Levels
The true highlight of the back-to-school season at CIS of Cape Fear is their annual Stuff the Bus event, the region’s oldest and largest school supply drive. In its 25th year, the event has evolved into a community engagement opportunity, inviting local businesses, corporations, civic organizations, and churches to collect essential back-to-school items for students in public schools across New Hanover and Pender counties.
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Christian: CIS Impact Beyond the Classroom
Christian, a first-year student at Elon University, recently shared his powerful story and the role that Communities In Schools of Chatham County (CISCC) has played in his journey.
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End-of-Year Celebrations Showcase Student Success and Impactful Partnerships
From California and Arkansas to Iowa and Illinois, Communities In Schools licensed partnerships are grounded in a belief that every child, regardless of zip code, has what they need to realize their potential in school and beyond.
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Brianna: Finding Joy and Liberty
Every Communities In Schools (CIS) graduate reflects the mission and legacy of CIS. Brianna Gaetz, a member of the CIS Class of 2015 and a Texas native, is one such alumna. Today, she serves as an Associate of Organizational Health & Performance at the CIS National Office. Her remarkable story is a reminder of why a caring adult is critical to student success.
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