Walla Walla, WA — Communities In Schools of the Blue Mountain Region (CISBM) is proud to announce its participation in the second cohort of grantees under the Communities In Schools® (CIS®) national Scaling for Success initiative. CISBM will receive a grant of $311,400 over three years to expand its reach to two new schools and establish a Truancy Specialist position within Walla Walla Public Schools for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year.
This investment enables Communities In Schools, in partnership with school districts and local schools, to provide critical, coordinated resources to students through trained professionals who connect them with the supports and services they need to succeed in school.
With this new funding, CIS of the Blue Mountain Region will extend its services to College Place by adding a Student and Community Advocate at Davis Elementary School. The expansion will also include Ferndale Elementary School in Milton-Freewater, where additional efforts will be concentrated. Additionally, a Truancy Specialist position will be created in Walla Walla, focusing on reducing chronic absenteeism at Sharpstein Elementary, Garrison Middle School, Pioneer Middle School, and Walla Walla High School.
“We are thrilled that this additional support will allow Communities in Schools of the Blue Mountain Region to expand our support of students and families in the valley. This gift deepens and broadens the impact on students and empowers them to stay in school and achieve in life,” said Katie DePonty, Executive Director of CISBM.
CIS understands the importance of being present and “all in” for students. When students start the school year strong—with resources, support, and a caring adult—they are more likely to regularly attend school and graduate.
Impact and Supporting Data as of 2022-2023 School Year:
- 268 receiving individualized assistance and 4,719 benefiting from school-wide programs.
- 76% of students with attendance goals met or made progress toward a goal.
- 63% of students with academic goals met or made progress toward a goal.
- 81% of students with social-emotional learning goals met or made progress toward their goal.
CIS has a bold ambition to grow into every Title I-eligible school in America and to build a stronger system that better supports the 12 million students living in poverty. The Scaling for Success initiative, funded by the Ballmer Group, is designed to catalyze public and private investment in the model through a 1:1 match requirement over the first three years and commitments to fully fund the work long-term. Communities in Schools of the Blue Mountain Region is one of 57 organizations in this year’s cohort.
For more information, visit bluemountainregion.ciswa.org.
Visit the Communities In Schools National website to read the original press release.
More About Communities In Schools
Communities In Schools® (CIS®) is a national organization that ensures every student—regardless of who they are, their ability, zip code, or socioeconomic background—has what they need to realize their potential in school and beyond. Working directly inside more than 3,000 schools across the country, we connect students to caring adults and community resources that help them see, confront, and overcome the barriers that stand between them and a brighter future. Together, we build a powerful change movement made up of peers, students, and alumni committed to building an equitable path to education for future generations. Follow us for news @cisnational on X (formerly Twitter) or with the hashtag #AllinforKids.
About Ballmer Group
Ballmer Group is committed to improving economic mobility for children and families in the United States by funding leaders and organizations that have demonstrated the ability to reshape opportunity and reduce systemic inequities. We focus on multiple impact areas and systems that can impact economic mobility—such as early learning, K-12 education, college and career pathways, housing, behavioral health, and criminal justice—and we support leaders and organizations that focus on undoing systemic racism and the barriers it has created. Ballmer Group is both a national and regional funder with a presence and deep investment in Southeast Michigan, Washington State, and Los Angeles County. Ballmer Group was co-founded by philanthropist Connie Ballmer and her husband Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft, founder of USAFacts, and chairman of the Los Angeles Clippers. Learn more at www.ballmergroup.org.