ARLINGTON, Va., March 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Communities In Schools President Daniel J. Cardinali applauded President Barack Obama's announcement of specific steps his administration will take to help reduce the dropout rate by providing funding to ensure high schools are preparing young people to achieve and graduate prepared for success.  The President spoke to a gathering of national education leaders, including Cardinali, at an event sponsored by America's Promise Alliance.

"I commend President Obama for his strong commitment to ensuring all our young people have the opportunity to succeed, not just in school but in life.  By providing $3.5 billion to improve under-performing schools and $900 million in school Turnaround Grants the Administration will bring comprehensive and systemic change to our education system.  

I'm grateful to the President for recognizing Communities In Schools and our proven model of comprehensive integrated student services.  We look forward to working with the President and Secretary Duncan to meet the President's challenge of achieving excellence in our nation's schools."

To view President Obama's entire remarks, visit http://www.c-spanarchives.org/program/292311-1.

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 3,200 schools, in the most challenged communities, in 26 states, and the District of Columbia, Communities In Schools serves nearly 1.4 million young people and their families every year. It has become the nation's leading dropout prevention organization, and the only one proven to decrease dropout rates and increase graduation rates.

SOURCE Communities In Schools

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