$5M gift will help struggling students in CMS schools
Helping some of Charlotte’s most vulnerable students through the challenges of the pandemic just got a little easier.
Communities in Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg (CIS-Charlotte) announced Thursday morning it received $5 million, part of a $133.5 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott to the Communities In Schools Network and National Office.
It’s the largest gift in CIS-Charlotte’s history.
CIS-Charlotte works with 54 Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools and serves more than 4,000 students. Men Tchaas Ari, the president and CEO of CIS-Charlotte, said that the gift will allow the organization to extend programming to even more CMS students.
“We are grateful for our long-standing partnership with Communities In Schools,” CMS Superintendent Earnest Winston said. “By providing resources, building intentional relationships and offering school-based support, CIS continues helping students see their potential and succeed. Together we are improving student outcomes.”
Nearly 20% of the county’s children live in poverty and more than 70 schools are identified as high-poverty and high-minority, according to CIS-Charlotte.
“It’s no exaggeration to share that the needs of our kids are greater now than during any point in our 37-year history,” Ari said, “so this donation comes at such a critical time.”
CIS-Charlotte listed top three priorities for the year:
▪ Re-engage students in their education, including those who stopped attending school altogether during the pandemic, as well as those who are “physically present” in school yet who have suffered significant social-emotional losses and academic setbacks
▪ Expand programming to support more students attending under-resourced schools
▪ Enhance the agency’s college and career readiness programming to ensure that every student has a post-graduation plan for success, whether that is college, the military, entering the workforce or a trade.
“This gift will allow us to address these priorities,” said Men Tchaas Ari, the president and CEO of CIS-Charlotte. “We want to ensure all students have an educational experience.”
“For parents, this means maybe scheduling trips to visit colleges,” Ari said. “Or maybe it’s helping them see what courses are offered and available for their kids.”
Getting students back
During the 2020-2021 school year — at the height of the pandemic — 99% of students enrolled in CIS Charlotte’s programs remained in school, with 96% of K-11 students being promoted to the next grade, and 96% of seniors graduating or receiving a GED.
“There were many students in CMS who didn’t go back to school,” Ari said. “We not only want to get them back in school, but see them go beyond high school.”
Communities In Schools’ school-based staff works inside schools and establishes one-on-one relationships with students to help them navigate issues and move beyond barriers in the classroom, at home and in the community.
CIS coordinates with schools and local service providers to meet the needs of students and families, as well as providing critical resources, like food, housing, healthcare, counseling, access to remote technology, and more so that students (and educators) can focus on academics.
This story was originally published February 3, 2022 at 9:30 AM.
