The Drop Out Epidemic

It is hard to believe that here in America we are losing more than 1/3 of our students.  There is no single reason why students drop out of school.  Dropping out is a result of a long process of disengagement that may begin even before a child enters school. It is a cumulative process, brought about by any number of individual, family, community or school risk factors.

The long-term effects of our nation’s dropout crisis are devastating...with implications reaching far beyond students and their families. When students drop out of school, they lose hope and can rarely look forward to a bright future. And the cumulative costs to the public are in the billions, for lost tax revenue, spending on social programs and incarceration, labor shortages and diminished global competitiveness. 

Many students miss valuable educational opportunities because they are inattentive in class due to inadequate nutrition; some students cannot concentrate because of pain from dental problems; others because of poor vision and no resources for acquiring vision services or glasses; some students don't have the means to secure appropriate clothing/uniforms; some are preoccupied with family conflicts; other students have difficulty because they experience real or perceived threats to their safety; many students lack the interpersonal and social skills needed to function in a modern cooperative classroom.

In the midst of the current focus on accountability in the schools, there are less resources and time allocated to prevention and intervention efforts focused on increasing student's personal, social, emotional and physical development necessary to be an active learner and succeed in school.  That is where Communities In Schools fills the gap. 

CIS Arizona brings resources and services to students so they can achieve academic success and prepare for life.  Working with school districts, we place a talented and caring adult within the school to provide needed community based services.  So children that can't see the blackboard, receive eye glasses.  Children that need dental care receive a dental exam.  Children that are hungry, in need of clothing, tutoring, or simply need to talk to caring adult are provided services.  We bring a community of resources into the schools.  We are your Communities In Schools.  

Call, write or email us
Communities In Schools of Arizona • 333 East Virginia Avenue, Suite 208 • Phoenix, AZ 85004
office (602) 252-5312 • fax (602) 252-5314 • info@cisarizona.org

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