“I have seen firsthand how Communities In Schools helps connect needed resources in each community to help our students successfully learn, stay in school and prepare for a better future. The 'Lots for Learning' partnership is an example of how businesses can support and have a dramatic, positive impact on education in North Carolina. I encourage other developers and the real estate community to join with us in supporting our local schools."

—- First Lady Mary Easley

The Problem

Too many young people are failing in our public schools today.  According to the 2000 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 68 % of fourth-grade students in the United States are reading below the proficient level.  Even more alarming, 60% of children living in poverty are reading below a BASIC level.   At the same time, American twelfth graders came in 19^th out of 21 industrialized countries in mathematics on the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), besting only Cyprus and South Africa.    

Overall, North Carolina ranks 34^th out of 43 states in the NAEP results during the 1990’s and has one of the highest dropout rates in the nation.   Last year, just over 20,000 students dropped out of North Carolina’s public schools. While the cost of dropouts to society can be difficult to quantify, the impact on our welfare system, labor force, and criminal justice system is obvious.   In general, high school dropouts are: 

·         Twice as likely to be unemployed

·         Three times as likely to be arrested

·         Six times as likely to be unwed parents 

According to a study done by the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, poor school performance is a red flag, one of the strongest predictors of whether youth will drink, smoke, use weapons, attempt suicide or have sex at a young age. Young people who receive inadequate education, who exhibit poor literacy skills or who are truant, disproportionately wind up in the juvenile justice system.  

·         More than one-third of children in the juvenile justice system read at a fourth-grade level, despite the fact that the median age of those in the system is 15. 

·         In the adult criminal system, 82% of prison inmates are high school dropouts.  

The report recommends that local school boards spend more money on special programs for students who have trouble learning in traditional classroom settings, and that community and business leaders create more internships and vocational training programs.  

Additionally, according to the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, people with lower levels of education are most likely to be unemployed.  Specifically: 

·      80% of college graduates are in the workforce

·      65% of high-school graduates are in the workforce

·      Only 43% of high school dropouts are in the workforce 

It is obvious that in order for the United States to continue to compete in the global marketplace we must CHANGE the way we are educating our youth. 

The Solution

Communities In Schools of North Carolina –  

Results Oriented 

During the 2004-05 school year . . .

·      96% of CIS students stayed in school

·      92% were promoted to the next grade

·      84% improved their grades

·      91% graduated and enter post-secondary and/or a job

Cost Effective

·      Dropouts collectively cost society $89 million annually.

·      CIS cost per child for services in North Carolina $311/yr

Communities In Schools is the largest “stay in school network” in the country and was recently named by Worth Magazine as one of the “100 Charities That Will Save The World.”    

North Carolina’s First Lady Mary Easley has strongly supported and endorsed the work of CIS.   

The mission of CIS is to champion the connection of needed community resources with schools and neighborhoods to help young people successfully learn, stay in school, and prepare for life.

Beyond that, Communities In Schools of Durham has a goal of cutting the dropout rate in half within five years.  

Nationally, Communities In Schools serves just over one million youth in 27 states across the United States.  CIS creates community around young people and their families.  Leveraging private dollars, utilizing volunteers, and identifying existing community resources are ways Communities In Schools works to provide essential services to at-risk youth both at school and home sites.   Just as importantly, because the CIS process repositions community service providers into the schools, teachers are free to concentrate on their most significant mission – TEACHING! 

North Carolina is considered the signature state program by the national office.  Current statistics illustrate the measurable impact of the CIS of NC network:  

·      2,795 outside agencies and organizations were brought in to provide needed services

·      Over 80,000 children and their families served in 57 counties; and 

·      9.169 volunteers contributed over 320,000 hours of their time. 

While CIS is making a difference, we still have much to do to solve the educational needs of children in North Carolina.  In the counties where we have EXISTING programs there are another 350,000 children who need CIS services.  We are currently serving CIS participates at a low economic rate of $311 per child per year.  Even at this very low rate it will cost us an additional $87.5 million to saturate existing areas.   

While that cost may sound significant, it is nothing compared to the staggering cost of not educating our young people.  As you may know, high school dropouts cost society over $4,000 per year in lost wages, tax revenue, and support programs.  With a life expectancy of approximately 72 years this equals over $200,000 per person. 

Communities In Schools in CHANGING the way kids are educated by championing the connection of needed community resources with schools and community sites to help young people successfully learn, stay in school and prepare for life.  

Everyone can be part of the Lots For Learning Campaign . . . Realtors, developers, builders, mortgage lenders, real estate attorneys, corporations and individuals all have the opportunity to help.  

Join the effort to improve both education and the quality of life in Durham County. Call us to find out more! 

CONTACT:

Elizabeth Levene

Director of Development and Communications

Communities In Schools of Durham

Tel: 919-682-9000

Email: elizabeth@cisdurham.org