Our Mission

Our History

Founder Bill Milliken began CIS in New York City in the 1970’s. He came up with the idea of bringing community resources inside public schools—where they are accessible, coordinated and accountable.

“It's not programs that are transforming young people's lives, it's relationships,” Bill once said. “A great program simply creates the environment for healthy relationships to form between adults and children. Young people thrive when adults care about them on a one-to-one level, and when they also have a sense of belonging to a caring community.” 

Forty-five years into our mission of surrounding students with communities of support, Bill’s principles continue to guide our work and serve as a beacon for the next chapter in our history. Learn more. 

What is Communities In Schools?

Communities In Schools is a national organization that ensures every student, regardless of race, gender, ability, zip code, or socioeconomic background has what they need to realize their full potential in school and beyond. 

Communities In Schools works by bringing community resources directly into schools through embedding a trained local coordinator whose sole focus is helping connect students with additional supports to help them learn, advance in grade level and graduate. 

Our Reach

During the 2021-2022 school year, CIS provided services to more than 1.8 million young people and their families in 25 states and the District of Columbia. Working directly inside 3,270 schools and community sites across the country, our network of 111 affiliates and 3 licensed partners connected students to caring adults and community resources to help them see, confront, and overcome the barriers that stand between them and a brighter future.

Data-Driven Impact

For more than four decades, Communities In Schools has demonstrated measurable success in creating equitable outcomes for schools and students of color and students that live in impoverished communities. During the 2021-2022 school year, 99 percent of students enrolled in CIS programs remained in school through the end of the school year, with 97 percent of K-11 students being promoted to the next grade, and 95 percent of seniors graduating or receiving a GED. View our recent data book for a comprehensive look at our work nationwide. 

Join Us

Together we are building a powerful change movement made up of superintendents, principals, teachers, parents, community partners, CIS alumni, and students committed to building an equitable path to education for future generations. Sign-up for our newsletter and receive the latest updates.