12-Point Plan Addresses School Dropout Crisis

If you’re reading a blog dedicated to keeping kids in school and preparing them for life (which is what CIS Houston does every day in more than 100 Houston area schools), you’re probably aware that we are facing a drop-out crisis in our country and in our community. You might be interested in what the National Education Association has to say about this crisis and its suggestions to curb it.

The nation is experiencing a dropout crisis -- one that has many contributing factors, demanding a wide range of tactics. That is the news from the National Education Association (NEA), which has unveiled a 12-point plan that will require the efforts of parents, teachers, business leaders, and lawmakers. Speaking at a press conference, NEA president Reg Weaver said, "We've identified the crisis, and it will take everyone sharing responsibility to correct it. This is no longer about students slipping through the cracks of our educational system. Those cracks are now craters." Among the key elements in the plan are mandatory graduation or equivalency, workplace options that would allow parents to participate in their child's education, and early intervention in the form of universal preschool and full-day kindergarten programs. For more, click here.

by Melissa Simon, CIS Development Director

November Texas Legend

CIS is grateful for all of the people who donate their time, talent and treasure to helping more than 40,000 at-risk students stay in school each year. We would like to join Cadillac in honoring their November Texas Legend, Catherine Campbell-Hevrdejs, who has served on dozens of Houston area nonprofit boards of directors, including CIS. Congratulations Catherine, and thank you for helping us keep kids in school!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

Lessons in Life Begin at Houston’s Kids Program

The Houston Chronicle’s Alief Community Newspaper highlighted Glenn E. Donaldson this week. The 16-year old junior attends Hastings High School and participates in Houston’s Kids employment program. CIS Houston is proud to be part of the Houston’s Kids project, a collaborative effort supported and initiated by America’s Promise, the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast, and the Houston Joint City County Commission on Children.

What began as a summer program to provide evacuee students with activities and enrichment has grown into an after-school program that serves more than 500 students from elementary through high school. The unique collaboration between the Alief Independent School District, the Houston YMCA, CIS Houston, and the Houston Children’s Museum works because each organization focuses on the same thing: helping children.

by Melissa Simon, CIS Director of Development

Immigrant Students at Newcomer Charter School

This inspiring story appeared in the Houston Chronicle on November 10, 2006. Newcomer Charter School, housed within HISD's Lee High School, is unique in that it educates approximately 200 students who have chosen to attend school despite challenges and demands that could easily stop them. These students range in age from 17 to 21, speak English as a second language, and are immigrants from Latin America, Asia or Africa.

Mr. Monico Rivas, the school's director, is an immigrant himself, and knows the challenges these at-risk students face. Working closely with Mr. Rivas is CIS Project Manager Sol-Angel Garcia, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who provides social service support so students can stay in school. CIS salutes the work Mr. Rivas and Ms. Garcia are doing every day at Newcomer Charter School.

by Melissa L. Simon, MSW, CIS Director of Development

Society of Petroleum Engineers Donation

CIS would like to thank the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) for their continuing support of CIS. We were honored to have Roger Hite and Ricky Pena attend our CIS Board meeting last night and present us with a donation.

We are thrilled to call SPE one of our many valuable partners. Each year, they provide job readiness training for many of our students who are getting summer jobs or interships through the CIS Youth and Employment Training Program.

To learn more about SPE, please click here.

Thanks for your support!!

Roger Hite & Ricky Pena from SPE along with Bill Hurt, CIS Board President, Carlos Duncan, CIS Board Member, and Cynthia Clay Briggs, CIS Executive Director

by Jonathan Timms, CIS Development Coordinator

Don't forget to vote tomorrow

Just a reminder to everyone to make sure and vote tomorrow. If you don't know where to go and vote, click here to find out.

Also, this article describes the bond issuses concerning schools and education in and around the Houston area.

by Jonathan Timms, Development Coordinator