DOVER, Del., Oct. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Communities In
Schools of Delaware (CISDE) – part
of the nation's largest and most effective organization dedicated
to keeping kids in school and helping them succeed in life – today
announced a $694,400 AT&T Aspire
contribution that will enable the organization to expand its
integrated student services model to more schools in Delaware.
The program expansion was highlighted during a special event in
Dover, featuring Gov. Jack Markell, as well as state and local
government, education and civic leaders from the across the
state. J. Michael Schweder,
president, AT&T-Mid Atlantic represented the company.
CISDE is one of 30 recipients nationwide that received
$12.5 million from AT&T as part
of AT&T Aspire, the company's signature education initiative
focused on school success and career readiness. With an
unwavering commitment to data-driven education outcomes, AT&T
Aspire has impacted more than one million students since its launch
in 2008.
"Common sense and extensive research tell us hungry students
can't learn, scared children can't focus, and bored kids don't
thrive. We need to put students and their families at the center of
our efforts and align the resources we have with their
individualized needs," said Jim
Purcell, president, Communities In Schools of Delaware. "The inclusion of parents and
support from the community, including mentoring, health, safety
programs, needs and resources, raises the achievement level and
success of the student. This expansion demonstrates our commitment
to give more young people the resources they need to succeed in
school."
Gov. Markell, who recently was named to serve on the National
Governors Association (NGA) Education and Workforce Committee, said
CISDE is doing extraordinary work to help the First State's
students excel.
"The future competitiveness and economic prosperity of our state
and country are dependent upon having a skilled workforce with the
education and training to thrive in the new economy," Markell
said. "Technology companies like AT&T and others need a
pipeline of workers who are equipped with the skills and
experiences that are essential for success. AT&T's
contribution to CISDE is great news for our students and our
state."
Through a competitive request for proposal process, 30 schools,
school districts and non-profits, including Communities In Schools
of Delaware, were selected from
more than 1,100 nationwide. Programs were evaluated based on
their effectiveness in helping students graduate, better prepared
for a meaningful career or college. Selected programs use
evidence-based approaches to serve students and are able to
demonstrate quantitative results.
"Education has been a priority for AT&T for more than a
century. We believe that when we invest in education, we are
making our communities stronger, safer and more economically
viable," said Schweder. "This was an intensely competitive
application process. Communities In Schools Delaware had a strong application and a strong
record of success. We are thrilled to help them help more
students prepare for college and careers."
Schweder added that CISDE has received more than $1 million in Aspire contributions since the
initiative was launched. In 2010, AT&T announced a
$104,000 contribution to CISDE. In
November 2012, Schweder visited
William Penn High School to announce
a $300,000 contribution to the
organization. Today's announcement builds on CISDE's record of
success.
About CISDE's Program
One-to-one mentoring, a cornerstone of Communities In Schools,
instills confidence to succeed and the belief that education
creates opportunity. These programs help students set high
expectations for success.
A component of AT&T's collaboration with Communities In
Schools supports student mentoring. Research has shown that a
caring adult in a young person's life impacts their success.
According to a recent report, students with mentors are more likely
to aspire to enroll and graduate from college than those without
mentors (76 percent vs. 56 percent).
The AT&T contribution increases CISDE staff, opens access to
service partners, and provides evidenced-based programming for six
Delaware High Schools: AI duPont High School, Dover High
School, John Dickinson High School,
Milford High School, Thomas McKean High School and Woodbridge High School. Students in these
schools will benefit from the support of trained site coordinators
working inside those schools. Over 400 students will receive
intensive, strategic intervention services and will be monitored
for progress over the next two years.
AT&T Aspire funding recipients include non-profits, schools
and school districts around the country that will expand programs
to serve additional students; add components to strengthen the
program; or to replicate in new locations. Many of the
awardees deliver integrated student supports, focus on college or
career preparation, and/or provide mentoring or peer-to-peer
supports to help students succeed academically.
CISDE's approach to communities is the same – different
communities have different needs and priorities. The
organization assesses needs and coordinates with service providers
to provide the following services:
- Non-academic assistance: Connecting young people with a
host of services — healthcare, housing, safety, nutrition —
resulting in students more prepared to learn.
- One-to-one mentoring: Instilling the confidence to
succeed, the belief that education creates opportunity, and setting
the expectation for success.
- Tutoring and academic support: Increasing academic
performance and building confidence.
- Family assistance & parent engagement: Ensuring
children have a supportive home life, and that parents have access
to the services they need.
- Out-of-school enrichment & service learning:
Strengthening the resiliency of children to succeed by expanding
their understanding of what the world has to offer.
- College and work access and readiness: Addressing
college readiness earlier in school, to better prepare students to
take advantage of going to college and increase employability.
Over the past three years, CISDE has helped to reduce the
dropout rate and increase the graduation rate for some of the most
at risk students at Dover High School, Thomas McKean High School and William Penn High School.
While over 60 percent of the students in each of these schools
have been identified as having more than five risk factors for
dropping out of school, 100 percent of CIS students from
William Penn and Thomas McKean not only graduated from their
schools, but did so with the same cohort of students with whom they
started. Between 79-88 percent of those same students went on
to postsecondary opportunities last year. In 2013-14, CIS
students' dropout rates were less than .3 percent in all CISDE
schools.
About Philanthropy at AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is committed to advancing education,
strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its
community initiatives, AT&T has a long history of investing in
projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and
economic achievement; or address community needs. In 2013, more
than $130 million was contributed or
directed through corporate-, employee-, social investment- and
AT&T Foundation-giving programs. AT&T Aspire is
AT&T's signature education initiative that drives
innovation in education by bringing diverse resources to bear on
the issue including funding, technology, employee volunteerism, and
mentoring.
About Communities In Schools
Communities In Schools of Delaware is part of the national Communities
In Schools' network which operates in more than 2,200 schools in
the most challenged communities of 26 states and the District of
Columbia. Working closely with school districts and partner
organizations, Communities In Schools serves 1.3 million young
people and their families each year. Based directly inside
schools throughout the country, Communities In Schools connects
students and their families to basic and critical educational and
community-based resources, tailored to each student's specific
needs. Learn more about Communities In Schools of
Delaware at
www.cisdelaware.org.
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SOURCE AT&T Inc.