About Us
Communities In Schools of Pennsylvania is focused on helping children build the best life they can by helping them overcome obstacles. Every child is unique and requires an individualized approach in order to succeed. Whether a child needs extra academic help, a mentor, a health check-up, additional food supplies or even employment training, Communities In Schools Pennsylvania is there to make sure each child gets exactly what they need.
Communities In Schools of Pennsylvania is one of 26 state affiliates, plus the District of Columbia, that comprises the Communities In Schools National Network. Established in 1994, Communities In Schools Pennsylvania currently encompasses four local Communities In Schools affiliates in 164 program sites serving over 40,000 students throughout Pennsylvania. Communities In Schools of Pennsylvania’s affiliates are located in Central Pennsylvania, the Eastern Pennsylvania, and Pittsburgh-Allegheny County.
We believe greatness exists in every child.
We see potential coursing through them, a promise waiting to be realized.
So we go where they need us—understanding their needs and listening to their dreams from the inside out and the outside in.
And in every step we take together, we help them find the strength and confidence to look within and see what we see— a bright future that’s theirs for the taking.
Community by community, school by school, child by child— we are all in this together.
Why is Communities in Schools Needed?
Every day many students face educational hurdles that come from outside the classroom. Hunger, poverty, family crises, low self-esteem, medical problems, violence, alcohol, and drugs negatively affect a child’s chances of being successful in school and in life. Communities In Schools takes a community development approach to supporting kids by unifying the full resources of the community around children, families, teachers, and schools as a support system to address these educational hurdles. Communities In Schools works at building relationships, locally and statewide – because the impact of all groups linked to the schools can achieve the positive results in kids and families we all seek.
What makes Communities In Schools the leading dropout prevention organization?
We are not aware of another organization with a similar mission (helping young people successfully learn, stay in school and prepare for life) that reaches such a large number of students, schools, and communities, and has an equivalent history of experience and success.
What is the purpose of the Communities in Schools state office?
The Communities In Schools state office works to begin new CIS programs and also provides training and technical assistance for the four local affiliates currently operating in Pennsylvania. The state office also coordinates certain multi-county/statewide programs.
How is Communities in Schools funded?
Communities In Schools, Inc., a national 501(c)3, is privately and publicly funded through a variety of corporate, foundation and federal state and local grants. Communities In Schools Pennsylvania similarly is funded through a variety of state, federal, corporate and foundation grants. On the local level, Communities In Schools sites receive funding from the CIS state office, local private sector support and various state, federal, and foundation grants.
You can view CISPA’s most recent 990 by clicking the button below.