Communities In Schools Applauds State of the Union Address Focus on Education

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Jan 26, 2011, 10:22 ET

Statement by Communities In Schools President Daniel Cardinali

ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Communities In Schools applauds President Obama for reaffirming in the State of the Union address that every child deserves a chance to succeed. The President called out the nation's dropout rate as a barrier to our prosperity and security. We agree. In communities across the country we are partnering with local elected officials, school superintendents, principals and teachers to reform failing schools, and close the achievement gap.

While the American economy struggles to recover from the recession, state and local governments, the primary funders of education, are particularly challenged. As government at all levels looks to make cutbacks, we must preserve funding for the programs that serve young people at risk of not graduating. We strongly support President Obama's pledge to "not make cuts on the backs of our most vulnerable citizens."

Tonight the President said of Americans, "We do big things." In 3,400 schools nationwide, working with 1.3 million young people and their families, Communities In Schools does big things – helping kids at risk achieve in school and succeed in life.

We are grateful for the President's continued leadership on closing the achievement gap, and proud to be the nation's leading dropout prevention organization and the only one proven to both decrease dropout rates and increase graduation rates.

Communities In Schools surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Through a school-based coordinator, Communities In Schools connects students and their families to critical community resources, tailored to local needs. Working in more than 3,400 schools, in the most challenged communities, in 26 states, and the District of Columbia, Communities In Schools serves nearly 1.3 million young people and their families every year. It has become the nation's leading dropout prevention organization, and the only one proven to increase graduation rates.

Visit our website at www.communitiesinschools.org.

SOURCE Communities In Schools