Communities In Schools of Delaware

N E W S  R E L E A S E

Contacts:

Jim Purcell, Dover

302-678-4929

jpurcell@cisdelaware.org

Communities In Schools of Delaware Celebrates Students at

Sussex Central School Completing On Track Course

Wilmington, Delaware, May 4, 2011 – The Walmart State Giving Council and WSFS bank have provided funding to help to support the On Track College Readiness Initiative for Delaware high school students and support the Communities in Schools Model.  For fifteen years, Communities In Schools of Delaware and Delaware Technical and Community College have engaged high school students in the On Track College courses.  This partnership between Communities In Schools of Delaware and Del Tech provides high school students with the opportunity to earn college credit before they graduate from high school and help them prepare for the college and world experience after graduating high school.  This program operates in all three counties at Delaware Technical and Community College.

“The Walmart Foundation is proud to support the On Track College Readiness Initiative here in Delaware which allows our students to start preparing for the future now,” said Jennifer Hoehn, Senior Manager of Public Affairs & Government Relations for Walmart Stores in Delaware, “Given the current economic situation, Walmart believes that the more prepared our nation’s workforce is, the stronger our economy will become.”

The first course, On Track I or SSS105 College and Life Skills, which was developed by Del Tech counselor, Lou Vangieri, focuses on transition from high school to college and study skills needed to be successful in school.  The second course, On Track II or SSS106 Becoming a Peer Helper, teaches students skills to help other students, one of the 5 CIS basic principles, kids need “a chance to give back to peers and the community”.  The last course, On Track III or SSS101-Mastering College Life, has been developed in the last few years and focuses on completion of the FASFA application process and the CPT college placement test.  Students discover what they might want to focus on in College and look at their opportunities for post-secondary education.

“Our part of the partnership with Delaware Tech and the State of Delaware is to help prepare students so they’ll become good SEED Scholarship applicants through the On Track program,” said Jim Purcell, President of Communities In Schools of Delaware.  Each student completes a Del Tech application with the first course, and upon completion of all On Track I and On Track III, students fulfill all requirements to enroll in Del Tech course upon graduation from high school. Students, also have the option to enroll in the Associates program at the University of Delaware and enter the Inspire program at Delaware State University.

Communities In Schools, the largest stay-in-school network in the nation is dedicated to surrounding students with a community of support and is proven to help keep kids in school and prepare them for life. Communities in Schools of Delaware (CISDE) in collaboration with Delaware Technical and Community College developed this initiative in 1995 to provide access to post secondary education opportunities for students who were struggling to graduate from high school and may not have considered college.  The primary emphasis of the initiative centered on the development of academic skills, life skills, and career planning for these students.  Throughout the partnership, the CIS Model has helped to indentify and support students concentrating on our five Basics: Every child needs and deserves:

1. A one-on-one relationship with a caring adult

2. A safe place to learn and grow

3. A healthy start and healthy future

4. A marketable skill to use upon gradution

5. A chance to give  back to peers and community

Communities in Schools of Delaware (CISDE) is uniquely set up and prepared to deal with the obstacles facing young people today.  Student performance and the conditions surrounding our youth play a big role in career and college readiness. It will take the effort of everyone in the community to prepare Delaware students to compete in the global market and obtain a better quality of life.  The generous support by the Walmart State Giving Council and WSFS Bank for the On Track initiative is a great start. On Track is supported in part by Walmart State Giving Council and WSFS Bank.

CIS Background

The mission of Communities In Schools is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.

Communities In Schools surrounds students with a community of support , empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Through a school-based site director, Communities In Schools connects students and their families to critical community resources, tailored to local needs.

Working in more than 3,200 schools, in the most challenged communities, in 26 states, and the District of Columbia, Communities In Schools serves nearly 1.4 million young people and their families every year. Communities In Schools has become the nation’s leading dropout prevention organization, and the only one proven to both decrease dropout rates and increase graduation rates.

Communities In Schools of Delaware

2010-2011 Fact Sheet

 Serving nearly 7,500 students statewide

 Targeted and Sustained Services to 522 Students Most At-Risk of dropping out of school

We partner with 47 Community Partners including agencies, organizations, businesses or individuals to provide services and resources.

 208 volunteers provide 1395 hours of services to CIS of Delaware school sites

Engagement and Need

76% of Parents involved or engaged

53% of students eligible for free and reduced lunch

82% of Students Showed Change in Attitude or Commitment to School

Student Outcomes for 2009-2010

 98% of all CIS students legally eligible to drop out stayed in school

70% of all CIS students being monitored for attendance showed progress

80% of all CIS students being monitored for behavior showed progress

63% of all CIS students being monitored for Improved Academics showed progress

81% of all CIS students ( excluding seniors eligible to graduate) were promoted to the next grade level

96% of CIS students who were seniors graduated with a high school diploma

522 CIS Targeted Students (2009-2010 EOY Report)

Post Graduation Placement (78 Students)

 63% of these students progressed to Post-Secondary School

 33% of these students attend Delaware Tech via the CIS On Tack Program