Secretary Duncan and Senator Hagan Tour Communities In Schools Durham Site

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May 02, 2011, 10:48 ET

Durham School Highlights Successful Education Reform Strategy

DURHAM, N.C., May 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Communities In Schools, the leading organization dedicated to empowering students to stay in school and achieve in life, welcomed U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and U.S. Senator Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) to the Durham Performance Learning Center, an innovative partnership between the Durham Public Schools and Communities In Schools of Durham.

Communities In Schools National President Dan Cardinali, Communities In Schools of North Carolina President Linda Harrill and Communities In Schools of Durham Executive Director Bud Lavery escorted Secretary Duncan and Senator Hagan, briefing them on the evidence-based and rigorously evaluated Communities In Schools model, and how it contributes to school turnaround strategies.

Secretary Duncan and Senator Hagan, both champions of education reform, have been strong supporters of the work of Communities In Schools. As Superintendent of Schools in Chicago, Duncan worked with Communities In Schools of Chicago, and as Secretary of Education he has continued to be a strong advocate for integrated student services, arguing forcefully that poverty doesn't have to be destiny. Senator Hagan has worked closely with the extensive network of Communities In Schools affiliates across North Carolina, and has been a longtime education leader and a champion for the work of Communities In Schools of North Carolina.

"Secretary Duncan and Senator Hagan have demonstrated true leadership on education reform, remaining steadfast in their commitment to find ways to turn around failing schools in the most disadvantaged communities," said Dan Cardinali, president of Communities In Schools. "The 4,600 professional staff and 57,000 volunteers of Communities In Schools are proud to partner with the Secretary and the Senator in their efforts to turn around failing schools."

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 has become the nation's leading dropout prevention organization, and the only one proven to both increase graduation rates and decrease dropout rates.

Visit our website at www.communitiesinschools.org.

SOURCE Communities In Schools