RECENT RESULTS
We are excited to report that during the 2018-2019 school year, we successfully connected 1,745 services and programs to 70,245 Chicago public-school students through partnership with 193 community partners.
CIS of Chicago placed full-time master’s level professionals, called Student Supports Managers, at 20 schools in 2018-2019 to provide intensive support to students most at risk of dropout or grade failure. In 2019-2020, that number increased to 31 CPS schools.
In 2018-2019, 967 targeted students in grades K-12 received intensive, case-management and counseling from our Student Supports Managers. Of those students, nearly 99 percent were either promoted or graduated. NONE dropped out.
In 2018-2019, our volunteer program continued to provide students with meaningful experiences to be mentored by caring, trusted adults and hone their interests about college and future careers. In addition, 2018-2019 saw the expansion of our STEMpathy program. The program, inspired by New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman’s idea that good jobs of the future will require students to be STEM-proficient and possess strong interpersonal skills, provides students with the opportunity to become collaborative problem-solvers by participating in hands-on science projects.
We also provided training to 130 community partners, covering such topics as classroom management, program evaluation and trauma-informed teaching. The 2018-2019 school year also was marked by several school visits and events by our board of directors.
MAJOR IMPACT
When we say that we are the dropout prevention program that works, it’s with a great deal of confidence.
A 2015 gold-standard evaluation of our work confirmed that our work positively impacts students’ course performance – two proven factors for predicting whether a student will stay on track to graduate. This two-year study, led by Professor David Figlio of Northwestern University, yielded diamond-hard evidence that our programs help students be successful. Specifically, our Partnership Program, which connects non-academic support programs and services to elementary schools, improves student achievement in math and reading. Research shows these are leading indicators for high school graduation.
To read an executive summary of our 2015 evaluation, click here. For the full report, contact us.
In the 2019-2020 school year, CIS of Chicago is working within 31 schools to provide intensive support to students most at risk of dropout or grade failure.