Last year, 13.9 million students missed too much school due to challenges like transportation issues, health needs, food insecurity, safety concerns, or family responsibilities.
Communities In Schools addresses chronic absenteeism through trained, caring adults—site coordinators—who remove barriers and help students show up to school, ready to learn. By building trusted relationships and connecting students to critical supports, CIS site coordinators bring resources directly into schools and help young people stay present, succeed academically, and build brighter futures.
Site coordinators work daily inside CIS partner schools to implement the CIS model of integrated student supports. They partner with parents, educators, community-based organizations, and school and district leaders every day. Together, this network of support motivates and encourages students to stay on a path to graduation and to achieve in life.
Take our POP QUIZ to test your knowledge about what CIS Site Coordinators do.
We know that having a connection to a caring adult is critical to keeping a student engaged in school. CIS site coordinators take the time to understand each student's unique needs and challenges and then work with them to set goals and track their progress during regular check-ins. They celebrate their student's wins and encourage them to keep going if, at first, they don't succeed.
The Push is a short film that follows the inspirational relationship between Darrell Smith, a caring CIS site coordinator, and Ja-Mez, who is about to graduate from high school full of self-confidence and with the promise of a bright future — an event that seemed impossible just two years earlier. The moving film provides an inside look at one of the many stories unfolding in thousands of CIS schools across America.
Through implementation of our evidence-based model, CIS not only supports individual students but we support the entire school. CIS site coordinators are experts in building strong relationships. They collaborate closely with administrators and educators to establish strong connections between students and their families, making them pivotal figures in schools. They also support creating school environments where all school faculty, students, and families feel safe and welcome.
“The school received tons of positive feedback from parents. Students are excited to attend school so they can be in the attendance class of the month. In fact, they hold their parents accountable to make sure they get them to school on time.”
Shannon Young
Site Coordinator
CIS of Rural Eastern Washington
Learn more about the role that CIS Site Coordinators play in individual students and school-wide success.
At Communities In Schools, our Site Coordinators are on the front lines every day, helping students navigate challenges, build skills, and thrive in school. For Shelby Clements, a Site Coordinator at CIS of the Dallas Region, every day is a balance of flexibility, support, and relationship-building.
Read more of A Day in the Life of a CIS Site Coordinator: Shelby Clements
As a middle school student, Zoe was very quiet and stayed to herself. Like many teenagers, self-esteem and anxiety are normal emotions on a daily basis. But for Zoe, the thought of going to school felt overwhelming.
Read more of A Boost of Confidence Helped Zoe Soar
“If it wasn’t for CIS, I would not be walking that stage,” Esteban, 18, admitted. “School was never really my thing.”
Read more of Once at Risk of Not Graduating, Esteban Graduated with Honors
“I never thought I’d make it to graduation," Andrea said. "School just wasn’t for me. But Mr. Walker changed everything."
Read more of Andrea's Connection Leads to Turnaround
CIS of Rural Eastern Washington prioritized attendance in their Tier 1 School Support Plan. CIS Site Coordinator Shannon Young implemented a proactive strategy to address the issue, including school-wide services and resources available to all students.
Read more of Making Every Day Count: CIS Attendance Initiatives Motivate Students
Ashley, a fifth-grade student at 107th Elementary, is described by Communities In Schools of Los Angeles (CISLA) Site Director Clara Ortiz as well-rounded, with a deep love for learning and a go-getter attitude. But what many may not know about Ashley is that her family recently left El Salvador, making personal sacrifices to start a new life in the United States.
Read more of The Power of Presence: How Caring Adults Provide a Community of Support
Kharma grew into a confident leader through CIS and plans to pursue a career in psychology to help others.
Read more of Kharma is Committed to Helping Others
Written in his own words, Leland found support through CIS and will pursue his dreams at SNU.
Read more of How CIS Helped Shape Leland's Future
Wednesday, February 18, marked an unforgettable evening at Creative Artists Agency's (CAA) offices in Los Angeles. Communities In Schools (CIS), the nation’s leading provider in integrated student supports, gathered its community — educators, alumni, advocates, board members, funders, and champions — to celebrate five decades of impact and to look ahead toward the next 50 years with renewed commitment and purpose.
Read more of Bringing the Band Back Together: Communities In Schools Legacy Event in Partnership with Creative Arts Agency
Learn about our licensed partnership with Montgomery Public Schools and dive into the impact happening at Southlawn Middle School.
Read more of Investing in Students and Strengthening Families: CIS and Montgomery Public Schools in Action
For three days in early March, more than 20 leaders from the Communities In Schools (CIS) network converged on Washington, D.C., for the organization's annual Capitol Hill Days. From March 2–4, affiliate leaders walked the halls of Congress with a powerful message: integrated student supports work—and the evidence now proves it.
Read more of The CIS Effect Takes on Capitol Hill
Last fall, as the federal shutdown disrupted essential services and paychecks, Communities In Schools responded with urgency and compassion.
Read more of Showing Up In Times of Uncertainty: CIS Launches Emergency Fund to Support Students and Families
When Communities In Schools launched the Being Present Matters Campaign in 2024, the goal was clear: raise awareness about chronic absenteeism and remind students, families, and communities why showing up to school matters. Now, in the campaign's second year, CIS has taken that message even further with the Pledge to Be Present initiative—a creative, high-impact way to engage students and build a culture of accountability around school attendance.
Read more of Pledge to Be Present: Inspiring Students to Show Up This School Year
At Communities In Schools, student success is built on strong, intentional partnerships. CIS Site Coordinators are embedded on school campuses, working alongside teachers, administrators, and staff to remove barriers to learning and ensure students receive the support they need—when they need it.
Read more of How Communities In Schools Partners with Schools to Support Students
This holiday season, Communities In Schools affiliates and licensed partners across the country are demonstrating what it means to be driven to give. As the need for shoes, clothing, food and essential items grows (according to national reports and confirmed by those in the communities we serve) our network is stepping up with unwavering generosity, hosting drives and changing lives.
Read more of Driven to Give: CIS Network Delivers Warmth and Essential Support This Holiday Season
With stops in Houston, Nashville, Jacksonville and Charlotte, the “Ready, Set, Learn” Back-to-School Tour aimed to remove barriers to learning, address chronic absenteeism and ensure students and families started the school year with the resources they needed.
Read more of Ready, Set, Learn Back-to-School Tour Full of Surprises, Supplies and Memorable Moments
Communities In Schools of Greater Tarrant County recently celebrated the opening of its new Center for Student Support. A longtime dream of the organization, the new center is expected to transform the community and improve the lives of students and families, offering various resources and services to the community, including a training center, a mental health counseling center, and a fresh food pantry.
Read more of CIS of Greater Tarrant County Is Present for More Students and Families with New Center for Student Support
The true highlight of the back-to-school season at CIS of Cape Fear is their annual Stuff the Bus event, the region’s oldest and largest school supply drive. In its 25th year, the event has evolved into a community engagement opportunity, inviting local businesses, corporations, civic organizations, and churches to collect essential back-to-school items for students in public schools across New Hanover and Pender counties.
Read more of Investing in Back-to-School Readiness at All Levels
Christian, a first-year student at Elon University, recently shared his powerful story and the role that Communities In Schools of Chatham County (CISCC) has played in his journey.
Read more of Christian: CIS Impact Beyond the Classroom
From California and Arkansas to Iowa and Illinois, Communities In Schools licensed partnerships are grounded in a belief that every child, regardless of zip code, has what they need to realize their potential in school and beyond.
Read more of End-of-Year Celebrations Showcase Student Success and Impactful Partnerships
Every Communities In Schools (CIS) graduate reflects the mission and legacy of CIS. Brianna Gaetz, a member of the CIS Class of 2015 and a Texas native, is one such alumna. Today, she serves as an Associate of Organizational Health & Performance at the CIS National Office. Her remarkable story is a reminder of why a caring adult is critical to student success.
Read more of Brianna: Finding Joy and Liberty
Cecilia Lee, Principal of Alumni Relations at CIS National, reflects on the graduations and alumni induction events she attended across the country, celebrating milestones and the power of showing up.
Read more of Celebrating Graduates and Building Community
Naomi, a high school senior, found the support she needed through her Communities In Schools of Northwest Michigan Site Coordinator Monica Rau. From organizing her schedule and helping her manage stress, to preparing for her driver’s permit with mock tests and paperwork, Monica was by Naomi’s side every step of the way.
Read more of Naomi: Support That Makes a Difference
I am a graduating senior of 2025, and very proud to be one. Showing up is difficult, but necessary. During my entire high school career, I found it difficult to show up. Going to school for 8 hours a day was emotionally exhausting. However, it doesn't have to be.
Read more of Roman: On the Importance of Showing Up
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