Mayor Kirk Watson spoke at a Communities in Schools of Central Texas event Feb. 27. State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt and state Rep. Brad Buckley also attended. (Sienna Wight/Community Impact)
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At Communities in Schools of Central Texas, there is an East African greeting that community members often use that represents the organization's belief that children are the future:
“How are the children?”
“The children are well.”
“In Maasai culture, the well-being of children is understood as a reflection of the well-being of the entire community,” CIS Central Texas CEO Sharon Vigil said. “When the children are thriving, the community is thriving. And when the children are struggling, it is the signal that something has to be done collectively.”
At a press conference Feb. 27, CIS Central Texas invited city officials, county leaders, state representatives, board members and educators to discuss a study conducted by the EdRedesign Lab at Harvard University.
The big picture
The Harvard University study identified short- and long-term outcomes for high-risk students who received CIS support.
Key findings from the study include:
Higher academic achievement
Increased graduation and two-year college enrollment
Greater economic mobility
By the numbers
The study found that students receiving CIS support see nearly double the test score gains of peers without academic needs. Additionally, three years of CIS in middle school raises graduation rates by 5.2% and two-year college enrollment by 9.1% for high-risk students.
CIS support also improves economic mobility, with annual earnings at age 27 increasing by 4.3% and lifetime earnings increasing by approximately $75,000. For every $3,000 that CIS invests per student, they generate $7,100 in federal tax revenue.
CIS Central Texas serves 78,000 students across 124 campuses and nine school districts. Of those 78,000 students, 10,800 are case-managed and receive more individualized support.
What they’re saying
One of the speakers at the Feb. 27 event was Chronika Winn, a CIS alumna and current board member. When she got pregnant in high school, the support from CIS allowed her not only to graduate from high school but also to attend her dream college.
"CIS helped me not only graduate, but apply to my dream college, Texas A&M University," CIS board member and "proud" alumna Chronika Winn said at the Feb. 27 event. (Sienna Wight/Community Impact)
“Today, I'm standing here not just as a success story, but as living proof that when we invest in students, when we see their full humanity and surround them with real support and love, anything is possible,” Winn said.
Mayor Kirk Watson emphasized the importance of supporting children. In October, he launched GenATX, an initiative to make Austin the best place to be a kid. GenATX is centered around three pillars: healthy kids, safe kids and happy, successful kids.
“When emotional well-being is strong, other systems strengthen,” Watson said. “When it's strained, everything feels more fragile. And that's why this new study from Harvard confirms what educators and families have long known. Integrated student support works. It makes a difference in young people's lives.”
