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having social workers, and 48 percent reported having other support staff members (cited
examples include behavior specialist, college adviser, and parent advocate). In schools that had
these support positions, school leaders indicated having an average of 2.8 full-time equivalent
(FTE) guidance counselors, 1.0 FTE social worker, and 1.6 FTE other support staff members.
Across all the schools in the sample, the average number of support staff members was 4.2
FTEs, which did not include the Communities In Schools site staff. These school support staff
members had large caseloads: guidance counselors, social workers, and other support staff
members averaged 296 students, 419 students, and 257 students per FTE, respectively, according
to school leaders.
Table 2.4 details the types of support services school leaders reported being available in
their schools, with their estimates of the percentage of students receiving each type of service,
service frequency, whether each service is available to all, and whether Communities In Schools
is a key provider. At least 80 percent of leaders reported the following services being available
in their schools: academic assistance, mentoring, meetings with adult staff members to discuss
academic goals, college planning and preparation, behavior intervention, anger management or
conflict resolution, linkages to basic needs and resources, and individual and school-sponsored
family engagement activities. In schools where the services are offered, leaders reported that
approximately half of all students receive academic assistance, college planning and preparation,
and pregnancy prevention services, and more than half the students engage in meetings
with adults to discuss academic goals, programs to prevent bullying and drug abuse, career
development and readiness programs, and school activities or meetings with their families. In
addition, many of these services are available on at least a monthly or near-weekly basis. School
leaders also reported that Communities In Schools is a key provider for many of these services
— most frequently for mentoring, numerous family-related services, behavior interventions,
drug abuse prevention, community service activities, and linkages to basic needs and resources.
In addition to their survey responses, most school leaders stated during interviews that they
consider Communities In Schools to be an important part of their school’s support system.
Communities In Schools’ Site-Level Operations
As part of its implementation research, the study team sought to build an understanding of how
Communities In Schools operates in the study schools. This section introduces details about
staffing, space, and programming.
Site Coordinators and Their Workspace
Communities In Schools program implementation is led at each school by one or more
site coordinators responsible for all on-site operations. Affiliate staff members determine how
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