NEWS

Young people growing up in military families have unique needs. Frequent moves, parents who are sometimes away for long periods, and the general stress of having a family member in the armed services can create a burden on these children and youth beyond what is experienced by their peers. Additional support from schools and communities…

As recently as 2009, just 55.8 percent of Duval County students graduated high school. Today, the graduation rate is 72.1 percent, according to the Florida Department of Education. This substantial improvement is largely a result of the work of Communities In Schools of Jacksonville, a nonprofit organization that places educators and other professionals directly in…

For the majority of children, kindergarten through third grade is a time to learn reading. Students receive various methods of instruction with the expectation that most will acquire the basic skills during this period.Some students, however, do not learn at the same rate as the majority of their peers, and some fail to learn to…

When adults talk about their high school experience, many mention people: the teachers, administrators, counselors, and support staff who took the time to connect with them and get to really know them. That connection is what people remember about school. That connection is what keeps kids coming to school when outside forces and influences make…

Do you want your child to have the opportunity to be successful and have fun? Communities In Schools (CIS) of Jacksonville offers enriching afterschool programs for students. The students engage in an hour of academics with certified teachers every afternoon, then participate in funand enriching activities. They learn valuable communication and life skills, which positively…

In the beginning of my internship with Bank of America and Communities In Schools of Jacksonville I listened to Chief Operating Officer Mr. Leon Baxton passionately refer to all of the kids in the summer program as “our kids” and “potential achievers.” The moment was striking to me but I couldn’t explain why. Although I…

Communities In Schools of Jacksonville staff and Americorps volunteers celebrated the achievements of some our most outstanding students who participate in the AmeriCorps Literacy Division at the Unlocking Potential to Greatness ceremony.AmeriCorps alumni and TEAM UP Project Manager Wade Johnson opened the event with his original rap, “I Can, ” which has become the anthem for students participating in…

Communities In Schools of Jacksonville’s VetSuccess AmeriCorps program hosted an event called Celebrating African Americans in the Military on February 26th and 27th at the Joseph Stilwell Military Academy of Leadership. The event promoted the students understanding of the challenges the African Americans in the military faced since the beginning of the United States, the contributions they…

Communities In Schools of Jacksonville celebrated 25 years of service to Jacksonville’s youth on Thursday, February 5, 2015 with more than 430 supporters, funders and volunteers during The Silver Gala. The night was bright, bright with the success of an organization who serves more than 6,900 students annually. “We are proud to present The Silver…

Can you imagine an elementary school without a safe playground to play on? Well that was a reality at Long Branch Elementary until Communities In Schools stepped in with a partnership from KaBOOM! and CarMax.Long Branch Elementary, a school in which one-third of the students participate in dropout prevention programs provided by Communities In Schools…