Communities in Schools reports high local results, asks district to fund expansion to more schools

Representatives from Communities in Schools of Hampton Roads presented program results and a funding request to the Newport News School Board on Jan. 20.

Dr. Hope Sinclair, the local affiliate lead, said the organization centers "strong trusting relationships with adults" and places site coordinators inside schools to coordinate tutors, mental-health partners and family resources. "It's literally about surrounding students with a community of support that empowers them to stay in school and achieve in life," Sinclair said.

Program staff reported they serve 2,739 Newport News students with whole-school supports in the 2024–25 reporting window, with 205 students receiving individual, case-managed supports. Presenters cited outcome figures including that 83% of case-managed students improved on attendance, behavior or academic goals and that promotion/graduation percentages for served cohorts were high (presenters cited figures ranging from 95% to 100% for select cohorts).

The presenters outlined the program's local funding model: previously, the district provided $78,100 per school and the national office (via a Ballmer Foundation grant) covered the remaining 50%, which for three schools produced a local total of $234,300 per year. They said the per-site cost for the 2026–27 school year would be $85,300 and asked the district to consider expansion — several presenters said they would like to reach 10 schools — and to help identify additional grant or city funding.

Board members asked clarifying questions about caseload calculations (presenters said the model targets 5–10% of a school's population, with an adjusted average caseload of about 50 students per site to ensure intensive supports), how referrals and consent work (site coordinators described teacher, principal or self-referral; parental consent required, with a consent form valid for three years), and service partnerships (Urban League, Catholic Charities and local housing assistance programs were named). A site coordinator described a current case where coordinated housing referrals and community partners helped a student's family address homelessness-related barriers to attendance.

Presenters requested the board consider sustainable, multi-year funding and to help identify grant opportunities so the program could remain embedded in schools rather than operating on short-term cycles.