NCJ Number
170980
Journal
Education and Urban Society Volume: 28 Issue: 4 Dated: (August 1996) Pages: 473-491
Date Published
1996
Length
19 pages
Annotation
The national nonprofit organization Cities in Schools, Inc. (CIS), is discussed in terms of its organization, its school-based model for providing services to youth at risk of dropping out, characteristics and perceptions of participating youths, and program elements consistent with efforts to improve school safety.
Abstract
CIS was founded in 1977. Its model is based on using existing community resources and services that are integrated and repositioned to school sites to achieve dropout reduction and mitigate related problems such as adolescent pregnancy, gang involvement, violence, and other risky behaviors. Data from 17 CIS programs indicated that these programs served more racial and ethnic minority students and that nearly half lived in single-parent households. The students' most common self-reported problems related to academic achievement. Most students felt that their schools were at least as safe as their home neighborhoods; students interviewed directly reported that they did not feel safe at school. Concerns included fighting, weapons, and gang conflicts that spilled over at school. Among CIS activities that promote school safety are reorganizing the school into smaller, more manageable units that personalize the school climate or classrooms; introducing more humanistic, creative settings; and offering after-school recreational and educational programs. Three local CIS programs that include project components particularly suited to school safety are in Adams County (Colo.), Seattle, and High Point, N.C. Table, note, and 17 references