Communities In Schools' Washington State Director Susan Richards Named to U.S. Department of Education's Northwest Regional Advisory Committee

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May 23, 2011, 10:13 ET

ARLINGTON, Va., May 23, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Susan Richards, Executive Director of Communities In Schools of Washington state, has been named to the newly established Northwest Regional Advisory Committee of the Department of Education. Richards is among roughly 100 leaders in education appointed to ten different regional committees to collect information on the educational needs of the nation.

In her new role, Richards will gather information from state and local educators, school officials, business leaders, state education agencies, parents, the community and others. She and the other committee members will work on compiling the information they receive to develop a report outlining the educational needs across the various regions, and then recommend ways to address those needs. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is expected to receive the report by August 1, 2011. The committees will also help the education department establish priorities for the upcoming Comprehensive Centers Program grant competition next year. The program provides technical assistance designed to help increase the capacity of states to support their districts and schools in increasing student achievement.

Richards has worked for Communities In Schools since 1994 when she founded the local affiliate in Renton, Wash. During that time, she helped the Renton School District, the City of Renton and the entire community to build successful family support and mentoring programs which effectively served more than 1,000 students annually. Richards continued her work in Renton until she was hired as the Communities In Schools of Washington state director in 2008. She also serves on the National Evaluation Advisory Committee, which guided the design and implementation of Communities In Schools' groundbreaking five-year longitudinal evaluation. As state director, she has overseen the implementation of the Total Quality System accreditation program, and has three accredited affiliates and five more in the process of accreditation within the state. Those accredited affiliates join more than 40 others in the Communities In Schools national network, with another 60 preparing for their accreditation.

"Susan is a national education leader, as well as a leader within the Communities In Schools network. Secretary Duncan will benefit from Susan's perspective, judgment and commitment to quality education for all students," said Communities In Schools President Dan Cardinali.

The first of the regional advisory committee meetings will take place today and tomorrow at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Va.

About Communities In Schools

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 25 states and the District of Columbia, Communities In Schools serves nearly 1.3 million young people and their families every year. It is the only dropout prevention organization proven to both increase graduation rates and decrease dropout rates. Visit our website at www.communitiesinschools.org.

SOURCE Communities In Schools