Communities In Schools of Los Angeles, Inc.

Communities In Schools of Los Angeles (CISLA) exists to address access to quality education for low-income students in order to break the cycle of poverty. Our work focuses on increasing graduation rates for the most vulnerable students at our partner schools. We work to meet essential needs so each child can do what many take for granted every day – to come to school feeling safe, supported and ready to learn.

To live our mission, we serve students and their families from Los Angeles’ historically underserved neighborhoods of Boyle Heights, Pico-Union/Westlake, South LA, Watts, and areas of the Westside. Our students are among the 89% of LAUSD children and youth living in poverty. They are predominately Latinx (74%), African American (22%) and Dual/English language learners (26%).

CISLA recognizes that our students are impacted by the broader context of poverty in which they live and experience school. We work with many partners to serve students, providing diverse supports (academic, socio-emotional, basic necessities, health, etc.) to address the imbalances caused by systemic inequality and to ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed. Committed to educating the Whole Child, CISLA has built school partnerships that develop social-emotional wellness, executive function and life skills necessary for learning. CISLA’s core philosophy is echoed in the Harvard Center on the Developing Child's findings on Resilience:

"The single most common factor for children who develop resilience is at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive parent, caregiver, or other adult. These relationships…build key capacities—such as the ability to plan, monitor, and regulate behavior—that enable children to respond adaptively to adversity and thrive."

As an independent affiliate of Communities In Schools (CIS), CISLA’s Integrated Student Supports Program is a nationally proven model that aligns with guiding principles of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Standards for School Social Work Services and California’s Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS) Framework.

Our three tiers of service are:

Tier 1: School-wide Services
We work with school leaders to identify schoolwide critical priorities and formalize interventions in a School Support Plan.

Tier 2: Targeted Group Programs
We lead community-responsive group programs to engage students and parents on issues impacting their education.

Tier 3: Individualized Case Management
We work with educators to identify vulnerable students, create Student Support Plans and serve as case managers for each student.

In this model, our youth development professionals build trusted relationships with students via activities such as: academic, career and college support; mentoring and social-emotional learning; leadership workshops; Restorative Justice practices; and parent engagement.

A 2012 economic modeling study funded by Annie E. Casey Foundation, Edna McConnell Clark Foundation and Capital One found that each $1 invested in the CIS program in California returned $38.40 in public and private benefits.

In 2021, the U.S. Dept of Education cited the CIS model as an example of effective supports for low-income students, “students of color, and other underserved students [who] faced non-academic barriers to achieving their full potential in the classroom.” (COVID-19 Handbook, Vol 2: Roadmap to Reopening Safely and Meeting All Students' Needs)

In 2024, CISLA secured a grant from the California Department of Health Care Services to startup the process of embedding the Resourceful Adolescent Program (RAP-A) into our model at our middle schools. Developed by researchers at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), RAP-A is a universal resilience-building program for ages 11-15 years that attempts to integrate cognitive-behavioral and interpersonal approaches to improve coping skills, build resiliency, and promote positive development. RAP-A is a clinically tested and peer-reviewed Evidence-Based Practice. It is rated as 1: Well-Supported by Research Evidence on The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare.

CISLA’s capabilities are rooted in our community-based teams and partnerships.

CISLA’s staff is comprised of professionals, committed to culturally competent and community-responsive services. Many hold advanced degrees and/or bring years of experience in the education sector. ​Over 95% are BIPOC and many come from communities we serve (or similar ones), bringing lived experiences that align with our students (e.g., as first-gen college students, immigrants/refugees). ​Staff are trained in evidence-based trauma-informed care, critical for working in schools where many have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). This combination of professional expertise, cultural competence and a trauma-informed approach is core to CISLA’s high-quality services to students, schools and communities.​

By design, CISLA collaborates with a diverse range of partners, including the students and communities we serve. Each year, our teams work with schools to develop a School Support Plan that integrates insights from campus stakeholders (principal, teachers, parents, students) into our campus initiatives. For each caseload student, CISLA case managers work with them to co-design their own personal plan for success. We accomplish our work with commitments from school district partners, enabling our teams to provide sustained support to students via long-term school partnerships. We partner with 70+ organizations across Los Angeles to meet the diverse needs of students.

CISLA supports 15 schools across Los Angeles, targeting 1000+ children and youth at identified as most vulnerable for individual support.

HIGHLIGHTS OF RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2024: Executive Director Elmer G. Roldan was elected President of the City of Los Angeles' Commission on Community and Family Services, which advise the Mayor and City Council on issues related to poverty, and the needs of families, children, and youth in order to build stronger and more resilient communities.

2023: 99% of CISLA case-managed seniors graduated on time, marking the 5th consecutive year our graduation rates have been 96%+ and ~20 percentage points higher than the LAUSD rate. This is significant, considering that our caseloads target the highest-need students in highest-need schools.

2022: CISLA relaunched our school expansion, which was halted during the pandemic. We reprioritize growth by rapidly adding staff to current schools and communities.

2021: CISLA confirmed that, during the COVID emergency, we distributed ~$500,000 to the highest-need students and their families.

2021: LAUSD’s School Board unanimously adopted the resolution, “Closing the Digital Divide to Improve Distance & Hybrid Learning”, in part as a result of CISLA’s year of engagement with the board on systemic digital inequities experienced by our students.