OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT PARTNERS
With over 35 years of experience
as a students supports leader,
Communities In Schools of Eastern PA
is a trusted partner to 10 school districts
CIS offers custom-designed Integrated Student Supports in:
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Allentown School District
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Bethlehem Area School District
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Brandywine Heights Area School District
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East Penn School District
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Easton Area School District
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Fleetwood Area School District
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Kutztown Area School District
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Reading School District
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Whitehall-Coplay School District
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Wilson School District (Berks)
Learn more about what CIS can look like in your school district...
What is Integrated Student Supports (ISS)?
The CIS Model of Integrated Student Supports, illustrated here, is our evidence-based approach, adapted to meet each community’s unique needs, and is the basis for our success.
ISS is an evidence-based model of wraparound student supports that embraces a whole child perspective. ISS integrates social, emotional, and academic development and addresses the out-of-school factors that keep kids from coming to the classroom ready to learn.
It is the role of a CIS Site Coordinator to implement Integrated Student Supports in ways
that serves the unique needs of each school
community. The Site Coordinator works
one-on-one with students who need help, but
they also manage relationships with community partners and broker new services into the school.
After a comprehensive needs assessment and planning, the Site Coordinator begins delivering ISS through three different tiers of support. By separating our supports across different tiers, we are able to serve most students in a school through Tier I School-Wide Supports and also focus attention on targeted students that have significant needs through Tier II Targeted Group Supports and Tier III Case-Management.
How Does the CIS Model Fit Into My School District?
We know that every school district is different. Every school has unique challenges. Our evidence-based model of support is flexible to meet the needs of every school we serve, whether it’s a public, charter, or private school in an urban, suburban, or rural setting.
These unique supports begin with a
school-support plan, which identifies
school-wide goals, such as increasing attendance or improving family engagement. Our school-support plans are approved by principals and reflect data and feedback from teachers, parents, guidance counselors, and more.
These goals guide the Site Coordinator’s supports throughout the school year as they work in collaboration with building principals, teachers, and guidance counselors to helps kids succeed.
MORE TO THE MODEL
We're using effective, evidence-based programs to supplement and enhance our ISS supports.
Developmental
Relationships Framework
Young people do best when they experience strong, positive relationships in all parts of their lives.
In it's DR Framework, the Search Institute identifies five elements that make these relationships most powerful:
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Express Care
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Challenge Growth
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Provide Support
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Share Power
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Expand Possibilities
All CIS team members are trained to apply the DR Framework to their relationship-building work.
Restorative
Practices
Restorative Practices (RP) build community & promote healthy relationships. Educators and students can benefit from these practices by learning social-emotional and conflict resolution skills.
Conflict is seen as an opportunity to foster learning and build stronger relationships by repairing harm, increasing social capital, and equity.
At CIS, a Restorative Practices Project Manager and a Restorative Practices Coach lead our RP work in schools. Additionally, all CIS staff are trained in RP and trauma-informed practices.
SEAD
Assessment
The Social, Emotional, and Academic Development (SEAD) Assessment is a student self-report survey developed by CIS National that assesses students’ competencies and needs in a number of social, emotional, and academic domains.
Some examples of skills measured by the SEAD:
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emotion regulation
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academic motivation
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self-control
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empathy
CIS staff use the SEAD Assessment with middle and high school students, and it is available in English and Spanish.
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What Do Our District Partners Say About CIS?
Hear from Michael Koch,
Director of Secondary Education at
Easton Area School District about
his experience with
Communities In Schools of Eastern PA...
Download More Resources and Reports from CIS National
