Submitted by Communities In Schools of Puyallup
Communities In Schools of Puyallup, a local dropout prevention organization serving students in the Puyallup School District, has achieved National Accreditation by demonstrating compliance with all Communities In Schools Total Quality System (TQS) standards.
The TQS standards define expectations for effective non-profit business practices and for implementing the Communities In Schools model of integrated student support services at school sites. The site standards are based on a five-year, longitudinal national evaluation conducted by an independent, outside evaluator that documented the impact of the Communities In Schools model. The evaluation revealed that schools implementing the Communities In Schools model with high fidelity had higher graduation rates, lower dropout rates, and performed better than comparison schools in increasing the percentage of students meeting or exceeding math and reading proficiency in 4th and 8th grades, a crucial predictor of high school graduation.
Communities In Schools developed the Total Quality System to establish clear operational guidelines that ensure uniform quality and improved outcomes for all students being served by Communities In Schools affiliates. The TQS system is part of an organization wide commitment to evidence-based practice and the highest standards of accountability.
“We are proud to have achieved our accreditation as it underlies the value of falling in compliance with the high set of standards put in place by Communities In Schools,” said Jan Mauk, executive director of Communities In Schools of Puyallup.
Communities In Schools of Puyallup joins several other Washington State affiliates that have received their national accreditation from among the nearly 200 local affiliates that comprise the Communities In Schools network in 25 states and the District of Columbia.
For more information about Communities In Schools of Puyallup, please click here.
