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Why donate? For several reasons:
An urgent need exists for the community to help our children for the good of our local workforce and economy and for humanitarian reasons. The following compelling statistical evidence supports the need for financial and volunteer support.
Parents raising children in South Carolina saw over half of 12th grade students in the state fail to graduate high school in 2001. Charleston County parents have seen 34% of their children drop out of school instead of graduate five years after completing eighth grade. In addition, students living in low-income families are six times more likely than their peers in high-income families to drop out of high school. Between 2002 and 2004, an average of 14% of the South Carolina population lived in poverty, while 2004 statistics reveal 22% of Charleston County children under 18 were impoverished.
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the American worker can expect the following average annual salary, based on education level:
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High school dropout - $19,000
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High school graduate - $26,200
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Bachelor's degree -- $42,200
There are economic benefits to taxpayers as well. One dollar invested in high-quality early childhood education programs results in a return of seven dollars in preventative costs associated with incarceration, truancy, school dropout and teen pregnancy. The cost to taxpayers of adult illiteracy is $224 billion per year. For juveniles involved in quality reading instruction programs while in prison, recidivism was reduced by 20% or more.
Communities In Schools has staff within 12 local schools. Providing support to children at those locations has yielded dramatic results that illustrate the value of our program. Communities In Schools of the Charleston Area, Inc.
Overall Program Outcome Summary School Year 2004-2005
Case-managed* students who actively participated (75% of the time) in CIS services and resources:
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Promotion rate: 93% of the students who actively participated in CIS programs were promoted to the next grade level.
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Graduation rate: 95% of the eligible 12th grade students who actively participated in CIS programs graduated.
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Pregnancy rate: The pregnancy rate for female students who actively participated in CIS programs is 0.0% compared to a rate of 4.8% for Charleston County.
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Stay in school: 98% of all students participating in CIS programs remained in school.
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Academic achievement: 86% of the students who actively participated in CIS programs improved or maintained numeric grades in one or more core subject areas.
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Attendance rate: 92% of the students who participated in CIS programs improved or maintained their attendance rates.
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Behavior: 98% of the students who actively participated in CIS programs improved or maintained positive behavior.
*Case-managed students have been identified by school administrators and CIS staff as those children in the greatest jeopardy of dropping out of school.
The Communities In Schools national program has received recognition from for its work to keep children in school.
Worth magazine has praised Communities In Schools as one of the 100 Charities Essential for Creating a Caring Society, the Urban Institute has noted improved retention, attendance and grade point performance of students case-managed by Communities In Schools Specialists, and the America’s Promise Alliance highlighted CIS tutoring in recently naming Charleston one of the “100 Best Communities for Young People.”
The success stories illustrate how Communities In Schools changes lives for the better.
How to donate
Communities In Schools welcomes donations of money, school and office supplies, Chocolate Affair auction items, and meeting/event space.
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