The Program That’s Turning Schools Around
The key to closing the achievement gap may lie outside the classroom.
TL;DR
- Communities in Schools (CIS) places navigators in schools to address students' needs outside the classroom, recognizing that academic success is linked to home stability.
- A two-decade study on 16 million Texas students showed CIS led to higher test scores, lower truancy, increased graduation rates (5.2%), higher college matriculation (9.1%), and better adult earnings.
- CIS interventions are estimated to be far more cost-effective than smaller class sizes for improving long-term student earnings.
- The San Marcos school district implemented CIS to address issues like homelessness, mental health crises, and domestic violence among students.
- CIS navigators provide a range of services, including connecting families to public benefits, mediating conflicts, providing emergency financial assistance, and offering emotional support spaces within schools.
- Despite evidence of CIS's effectiveness, federal funding for community school programs and related social support initiatives has been significantly reduced.
- Community schools aim to close achievement gaps by providing wraparound supports, though they cannot solve all systemic issues like poverty or lack of healthcare.
- The San Marcos district has seen improvements in student safety and a reduction in violent incidents since implementing CIS.