Communities In Schools Of Greater New Orleans To Expand Intensive Student Supports To High School Students With $300,000 From...

NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- It takes caring professionals and a relentless focus on results to keep students at risk of dropping out of high school on the path to graduation. Because of its demonstrated success supporting and motivating traditionally underserved students to stay in school and prepare for their next step in life, Communities In Schools of Greater New Orleans, Inc. has been named as one of 30 recipients nationwide that will share in nearly $12.5 million from AT&T.

These contributions are a 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.

Through a competitive request for proposal process, 30 schools, school districts and non-profits, including CIS Greater New Orleans were selected from more than 1,100 nationwide. Programs were evaluated based on their effectiveness in helping students graduate ready for career or college. Selected programs use evidence-based approaches to serve students and are able to demonstrate quantitative results.

"Educators in schools across the country have a unique understanding of the challenges students face every day in their communities; however, some of those challenges are more than just academic," stated State Senator J.P. Morrell. "Our area is fortunate to have Communities In Schools service providers housed in targeted schools who work with students and their families to remove barriers to academic success and career growth."

A component of AT&T's collaboration with CIS Greater New Orleans supports student mentoring. Research has shown that a consistent, 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 in and graduate from college than those without mentors (76 percent vs. 56 percent).

"Last year, CIS of Greater New Orleans worked with more than 2,300 students across 12 schools to provide range of interventions so that those students could overcome an identified barrier to success in school," said Sara Massey, president, Communities In Schools of Greater New Orleans. "More than 84% of students met their goals with the help of more than 75 program and service providers coordinated by CIS."

"It is an honor to support Communities In Schools of Greater New Orleans and the work they are doing in schools to help alleviate the dropout crisis in our state," said Sonia Perez, President, AT&T Louisiana. "By helping students and their families identify the resources needed that are solutions to those problems, these students are able to focus on school, gain a degree and become one of our many needed qualified employees in the workforce."

AT&T Aspire funding recipients include non-profits, schools and school districts around the country that will expand programs to serve additional students, to 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 in academics and beyond.

Funding from AT&T will support CIS in continuing its services at three high schools in the Collegiate Academies family of schools: Sci Academy, Carver Collegiate Academy and Carver Preparatory Academy. In addition, CIS services will be established with Lake Area New Tech Early College High School, enabling 700 more students to access CIS' wide array of services. Of special note is the partnership between AT&T and CIS to provide Career Exploration Days for students as they spend a day with AT&T employees from a vast array of career fields.

"My CIS site coordinator is there to listen to me and help me figure out how to solve my problems. I feel safe when I talk to her because she understands me. She wants me to do well in school, so she doesn't let me off the hook. I don't know what I am going to do when I graduate high school, but she keeps reminding me that if I focus on doing what I am supposed to in school, I will have options," according to one of the students at a CIS-supported school.

About Philanthropy at AT&T

AT&T Inc. 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 of Greater New Orleans, Inc.

Communities In Schools of Greater New Orleans 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 Greater New Orleans at www.CISNewOrleans.org