Monthly Archives: January 2011

Statement by Communities In Schools National President Daniel Cardinali

Arlington, Va. – Communities In Schools applauds President Obama for reaffirming in the State of the Union address that every child deserves a chance to succeed. The President called out the nation’s dropout rate as a barrier to our prosperity and security. We agree. In communities across the country we are partnering with local elected officials, school superintendents, principals and teachers to reform failing schools, and close the achievement gap.

While the American economy struggles to recover from the recession, state and local governments, the primary funders of education, are particularly challenged. As government at all levels looks to make cutbacks, we must preserve funding for the programs that serve young people at risk of not graduating. We strongly support President Obama’s pledge to “not make cuts on the backs of our most vulnerable citizens.”

Tonight the President said of Americans, “We do big things.” In 3400 schools nationwide, working with 1.3 million young people and their families, Communities In Schools does big things – helping kids at risk achieve in school and succeed in life.

We are grateful for the President’s continued leadership on closing the achievement gap, and proud to be the nation’s leading dropout prevention organization and the only one proven to both decrease dropout rates and increase graduation rates.

January is National Mentor Month. In a show of support, Communities In Schools of Kent, along with other local CIS affiliates, have teamed up with the Seattle Thunderbirds hockey team to offer discounted tickets for their game on January 30. The Thunderbirds will be taking on the Everett Silvertips at 5:00 PM, at the ShoWare Center in Kent.

Thunderbirds players Travis Toomey, Michael Salmon, and Luke Lockart serve as mentors with Communities In Schools of Kent in the Kent School District. As mentors, each of these young men is paired up with a student to meet regularly throughout the school year. Communities In Schools mentors work with students to instill the confidence to succeed, to encourage the belief that education creates opportunity, and to set an expectation for success.

To buy tickets for the game, place your order online at http://tickets.seattlethunderbirds.com/. Click the “buy tickets” button for the January 30 game. Choose your seat, click apply discount, type in “mentor,” and change your ticket price from $22 to $18. Finalize the checkout process, and enjoy a great game in support of National Mentor Month!

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. Communities In Schools of Seattle (CISS) has achieved National Accreditation by demonstrating compliance with all Communities In Schools Total Quality System (TQS) standards.

“We are proud to have achieved our accreditation with Communities In Schools because we know this high set of standards will help us provide better services to our students,” said Shira Rosen, Executive Director. Communities In Schools of Seattle is among the earliest to receive its national accreditation out of nearly 200 affiliates that comprise the Communities In Schools network in 25 states and the District of Columbia. The TQS standards define expectations for effective non-profit business practices and for implementing the Communities In Schools model of integrated student support services at school sites.

Communities In Schools of Seattle works within schools to provide intensive one-on-one support to students and families facing crisis situations. CISS delivers effective programs that: improve student achievement through both school-wide services and sustained, individualized interventions for the 10% of students most at-risk of dropping out; enrich the school experience through academic enrichment programs and experiences that supplement classroom learning; and meet basic needs through supportive services that alleviate the strains of poverty and other challenges that impact students. CISS currently provides services at Rainier Beach High School, Aki Kurose Middle School, Denny International Middle School and Graham Hill Elementary School.