Everyone at CISPAC is saddened by the recent losses of long-time Board member Fred Fetterolf and former Board member Tom Murrin. Fred and Tom were both incredible, generous, intelligent, kind men and we are honored that they chose to work with CIS over the years. Our thoughts and prayers are with both families.

Welcome to Communities In Schools of Pittsburgh-Allegheny County!

Empowering students for a lifetime of success - this is what Communities In Schools is all about.

The mission of Communities In Schools, a 501(c)(3) organization, is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. By partnering with schools to address children's unmet needs, CIS provides the link between educators and the community. The result: teachers are free to teach, and students - many in jeopardy of dropping out - have the opportunity to focus on learning.

Who we are

Communities In Schools of Pittsburgh-Allegheny County (CIS) is a non-profit dropout prevention organization that is an affiliate of the nation's largest stay-in-school network. Through our In-school programs, After-school programs, and Alternative Learning Academies, Communities In Schools connects students and their families to critical community resources, tailored to individual needs.

Partnering with school districts throughout Allegheny County, Communities In Schools serves nearly 1000 young people and their families every year. Nationally, Communities In Schools has become our country's leading dropout prevention organization, and the only one proven to significantly decrease dropout rates, increase graduation rates, and increase math and literacy proficiency.

To view our 2012-2014 Strategic Plan, click here.

GRADUATE PITTSBURGH INITIATIVE

The Graduate Pittsburgh Initiative works to increase the high school graduation rate in our region. Communities In Schools founded and chairs this Initiative, working closely in partnership with over 30 youth-serving organizations, schools, government, and businesses. The Committee works year-round to bring best practices and community collaboration to bear to impact this issue. Currently, the Graduate Pittsburgh Committee is working on initiatives focused on Immediate Interventions, Truancy Prevention, and Early Indicators of Dropping Out.

Each year, the Graduate Pittsburgh Iniative hosts the Graduate Pittsburgh Summit. The most recent Summit was held on November 10, 2011 and focused on "Success in School from Coast to Coast: Getting Together / Getting Results". The Committee is beginning to think about the 2012 Summit and welcomes any ideas or feedback!

Our youth are talking - listen to what they have to say! View the "Youth Voices" video from the Graduate Pittsburgh 2010 Summit.

If you are inspired to join the Graduate Pittsburgh Initiative or take action to stop the dropout epidemic through volunteering or mentoring, e-mail us to join our efforts! Contact Nicole Molinaro Karaczun, Communities In Schools Executive Director at nmolinaro@cispac.org.

Please click here to view a video about Communities In Schools and click here to read about the FINAL RESULTS of the five-year longitudinal study conducted by ICF International that proves CIS is the most effective dropout prevention organization in America.

Success Stories

Shreen grew up in foster care after having lost her mother when she was 9 years old. Shreen, a young mother of four, spent several years in our program striving to earn her high school diploma after dropping out of a local high school. CIS was able to be flexible with her schedule so that she could be a responsible mother while completing her high school education. Of course, this took a lot of time, but Shreen remained focused and completed all of her required coursework. While she was a student, she attended our week long BIZ CAMP, where she competed in a business plan competition. She shared first place, for developing an innovative plan to create a housing program for young mothers and fathers. After completing our program,
she successfully completed Job Corps certification program for registered nursing assistants; at the Job Corps graduation, Shreen was selected as the one student speaker on behalf of her class of over 50 students. She is now working as a nursing assistant and is enrolled in Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) with an ultimate goal of becoming a registered nurse.

Please click here for more success stories.