Graduation from high school is a well-documented indicator of likely success in life. Losing our Future: How minority youth are being left behind by the graduation rate crisis. (2004)* Attendance and appropriate behavior are necessary for school success. Many researchers have concluded that poor academic performance and disengagement from school, particularly poor performance and frequent behavior issues in elementary and middle school, are likely predictors of dropping out of high school. Frequent absences are the most common indicator of student disengagement and are negatively related to academic achievement. The Silent Epidemic: Perspectives of High School Dropouts (Bridgeland, Dilulio, Morison) reports that 65% of surveyed high school dropouts missed class often the year before dropping out.* Clearly, intervening to improve student attendance can have a major impact on students studying in school.

The drop out issue is a concern for Alaskans.  In the 2005 - 2006 school year, the Alaska statewide graduation rate for all students was 60 percent (Department of Education & Early Development). 

Census figures show that youth in Alaska represent a disproportionate share of the overall population. Insuring the future of Alaska’s youth is, therefore, an important economic development strategy for the state – and CIS of Alaska aims to address that goal through various initiatives and its’ support of CIS Affiliates in the state.

We believe that in Alaska we are fortunate to have a wide spectrum of community resources. Unfortunately, agencies often operate in isolation… This is where CIS comes in; serving to coordinate community resources and effectively connect them with schools.