Communities In Schools (CIS) surrounds students with a community of supports empowering them to achieve in school and succeed in life.  For the 83,000 children living in poverty in our region, challenges outside the classroom can stand in the way of success inside the classroom. CIS works in schools full time to remove those barriers by building one-on-one relationships that empower students to stay in school and succeed in life. Because they’re in schools all day every day, CIS sees the unique needs of each student and partner with teachers and the community to address them. Whether it’s clean clothes, help with school work, or emotional support to help a child cope with and recover from a traumatic event, CIS connects students with the relationships and resources they need to succeed. For more than 40 years, CIS has developed an evidenced based approach to supporting students needs that is extremely successful. Nationally, they serve 1.5 million students across 23 states. CIS works to connect community resources to the school where they are both accessible and accountable.  CIS works to engage students through equitable learning practices, helping students navigate life changes.