Communities In Schools – Albany/Dougherty

Where Every Day Leads to Graduation Day!

COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS – ALBANY/DOUGHERTY

The history…

a part of this community since 1995, we are also affiliates of the state and national organizations

The only organization focused on dropout prevention to graduation

Our affiliate has seen the best of times and the worst of times; grants and funding were readily available and generous in the early years

CISAD was in several schools, providing mentoring, tutoring and on-going services to keep students engaged and enrolled

COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS – ALBANY/DOUGHERTY

Current board is comprised of

Officers: Judith Corbett – Chair, Michael Harris – Vice

Chair, Joe Najjar – Secretary, Kenneth McMillan –

Treasurer

Rachelle Scott, Dr. John Culbreath, Wendy Wilson, Dr.

Michael Rogers, Betty White, Greg Edwards

Executive Director is Virginia Monroe

There are two part-time Site Coordinators

CISAD – Getting it done

CIS uses a community development approach to coordinate prevention and intervention services and programs designed to support students

In the Dougherty County School System, CISAD aims to reach potential dropouts by weaving existing resources into a safety net that responds to each child holistically, creates a safer school environment and allows student and educators to perform at their fullest potential

CISAD – Getting it doneIn 2013 as a result,

we had 32 graduates from the program

for 5% of total DCSS count

Another 20 students completed all coursework for

graduation yet missed the required

score on one graduation test

section

COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS – ALBANY/DOUGHERTY

Mission: to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life

CISAD believes every child needs and deserves the five basics –

A personal, one-on-one relationship with a caring adult

A safe place to learn and grow A healthy start and a healthy future A marketable skill to use upon graduation A chance to give back to peers and the

community

COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS – ALBANY/DOUGHERTY

Vision: All students served by Communities In Schools – Albany/Dougherty will be enriched and inspired to succeed in school and in life

Our work is never done; we try to get in where we fit in with each student

We offer information and awareness to all the students at a site

Those who need more are referred to the Performance Learning Center

COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS – ALBANY/DOUGHERTY

WE know that …Poverty, illiteracy and teen pregnancy factor into the high dropout ratepotential candidates are behind in earning graduation credits and may be more successful in earning credits in a smaller, non-traditional environmentThe Performance Learning Center (PLC) model has proven most successful in reaching the students where they are and propelling them forward

WHAT ARE PERFORMANCE LEARNING CENTERS®?

PLCs are small, non-traditional high schools geared toward students who are not succeeding in the traditional school setting. They create a business-like environment and emphasize personal support and an intense academic program anchored by an online instructional system and project-based learning.

Performance Learning Centers work to focus students not just on graduation, but life and education beyond high school. Preparation for college and a career are the standards of success for PLCs. PLC students are encouraged to start actively planning their future and take the steps necessary to make their plans a reality.

Our New CCPLC

• A three-way partnership between Dougherty County School System, Albany Technical College and Communities In Schools – Albany/Dougherty

• Designed to improve graduation rates, reduce dropouts, and provide high school students, county-wide, an accelerated path to graduation

• Plus the potential to add college credit to the academic progress of students while creating dual enrollment opportunities at Albany Tech.

CISAD – College and career PLC

Our Programmatic Goals:

Serve high school students at-risk of dropping out of school

Intervene quickly with targeted services

Increase students’ chances of earning a high school diploma

Prepare students for college and/or career

Provide substantial data to demonstrate positive outcomes

COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS – ALBANY/DOUGHERTY

Desired Outcomes:

•Increase high school graduation rate

•Increase on-time promotion to the next grade or on-tract to graduate rates

•Increase credit accumulation and completion of core courses

•Improve attendance rates

•Reduce behavioral and disciplinary problems

CISAD – key strategic plan elements

Become TQS accredited by 4Q15o Hire full-time ED

Attract 10 partnerso In-kind and monetary support

Raise awareness of CISAD’s critical roleo Breakfast, speaking engagements, marketing

Expand number of sites and site coordinatorso In all high schools by 2016

CISAD – our needs

LOCAL FUNDINGTo help more students graduateNeeded to match grants and allotmentsRequired to meet TQS goal

LOCAL INVOLVEMENTTo increase support and build advocacyTo help expand the programming Needed to increase number of graduates