Our Network

Communities In Schools of Pittsburgh-Allegheny County History
Our local Communities In Schools affiliate began in Allegheny County in July 1985 as Cities In Schools of Southwestern Pennsylvania, which was a project of the Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation, in response to the need for an educational intervention/prevention program in the Steel Valley School District. On February 1, 1995, in keeping with the Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation’s practice to “release” programs able to stand alone, we became an independent non-profit organization. In September 1996 the national organization changed its name to Communities In Schools, with our local affiliate following suit.         

Since our inception, CIS has brought resources into our partnering schools to address children’s unmet needs, thus providing the link between educators and the community. In addition to linking resources to students and their families, CIS has managed the delivery of these resources to ensure coordination of effort and accountability for results. CIS has provided these services to the entire school, to a designated student population and/or to in-school alternative education programs. 

To date, CIS has delivered in-school services to over 50,000 students. In 1999, CIS launched the first of three alternative education academies for educationally at-risk high school students not succeeding in the traditional school environment. This CIS Academy, located in the South Hills, serves students still enrolled in school but likely to drop out as well as youth who have dropped out but desire to return to earn their diploma. CIS opened two additional Academies serving the City of Pittsburgh and Alle-Kiski Area areas in October 2004 and January 2006, respectively.

Communities In Schools of Pennsylvania History
Communities In Schools of Pennsylvania (CISPA) is one of 27 state affiliates, plus the District of Columbia, that comprises the CIS national network. Established in 1994, CISPA currently encompasses five local CIS affiliates in 119 program sites serving over 18,350 students throughout Pennsylvania.

To find other CISPA Affiliates, click here.

Communities In Schools National History
Established in 1977, CIS National is the nation’s leading community-based organization helping young people stay in school and prepare for life. CIS National spans 27 states and the District of Columbia, and services over 2 million young people per year.

For more than 30 years, CIS has championed the connection of needed community resources with schools. By bringing caring adults into the schools to address children's unmet needs, CIS provides the link between educators and the community. The result: Teachers are free to teach, and students -- many in jeopardy of dropping out -- have the opportunity to focus on learning.

To check out the National Network, click here.