Communities In Schools of Nevada Commemorates 20 Years Serving as the Valley’s Leading Stay-in-School Organization

LAS VEGAS, NEV.) October 17, 2024 – Communities In Schools of Nevada (CIS of Nevada), part of the nation’s leading evidence-based stay-in-school organization, marked its 20^th anniversary since the nonprofit began operations in Nevada with a press conference hosted at Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School, the organization’s inaugural school site on Thursday, October 17.

Guests heard from Tami Hance-Lehr, CEO and state director, Communities In Schools of Nevada, who spoke about the organization’s history and community impact. Remarks were also made by Jhone Ebert, superintendent of public instruction, Clark County School District, Timothy Adams, principal, Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School and Dominic Cherry, a local student graduate of the CIS program.

CIS currently serves 118 Title I and high-needs schools and more than 100,000 students in grades K-12 – of which more than 70,000 reside in Southern Nevada. Through CIS’ network of 120-plus agency and nonprofit partners statewide, CIS literally brings “community into the schools.” From food, housing, medical/dental/mental health services, tutoring and more, CIS does whatever it takes to keep kids in school and on track to graduate. Proudly, the 2022-2023 graduation rate for CIS case-managed students statewide is 95%, a particularly impressive achievement given the challenged circumstances of the students it supports.

About Communities In Schools of Nevada

CIS places full-time and professionally trained site coordinators in 118 Title I and high-needs schools across Nevada to support more than 100,000 students in grades K-12 who face barriers to their success—increasing the likelihood of students staying in school and graduating on time. The organization taps into a statewide network of more than 120 community nonprofits, partners, and agencies, bringing the community into the school to get students whatever they need to overcome the barriers they face that prevent them from achieving academically. From eyeglasses, dental care, health care, and professional counseling to food, school supplies, clothing, and housing, CIS identifies student needs and finds a way to address them, closing the gaps they experience in their everyday lives. CIS's long-term vision is for every child enrolled in a Title I or high-needs school to access a CIS site coordinator and their evidence-based model of integrated student support, otherwise known as wraparound services. The graduation rate for CIS case-managed high school seniors in Nevada for the 2022-2023 school year was 95 percent. For more information, visit http://www.cisnevada.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.