The CIS Model
How does CIS translate its Theory of Change into practice to bring about needed changes at school sites and in the lives of the students? The answer lies in a simple yet highly effective model for delivering integrated, evidence-based services to address school and individual student level needs.
The following illustration shows how the CIS Model is implemented throughout the school year by a CIS site team. The process is cyclical, with the evaluative information from one year being used as part of data-driven decision making for the next year of implementation.
The key elements of the CIS Model include:
1. CIS Site Team
The CIS site team is led by a CIS site coordinator responsible for planning and managing all CIS operations at the site. The site coordinator works closely with school administrators, staff and teachers in this effort. The remaining part of the team may include varied combinations of additional CIS staff, reassigned or repositioned staff, partners and volunteers, each with defined roles and responsibilities based on CIS site operations plans.
2. Annual Needs Assessment
Each year CIS identifies needs based on multiple sources of data. These may include data collected by school districts and schools as part of overall school improvement initiatives, surveys and discussions with staff, parents and students, and evaluation results from the previous year. Needs are prioritized in consultation with school administrators and are used as the foundation for site operations planning.
3. Annual Site Operations Planning
Each year the CIS site team develops a comprehensive site operations plan to address identified needs. The plan includes measurable objectives, as well as procedures for delivering Levels One and Two services, monitoring and adjusting services, and evaluating and reporting effectiveness.
4. Delivery of Evidence-Based Services
According to the site operations plan, widely accessible Level One services are provided to help address identified school-wide needs or to build and reinforce student assets. Targeted and sustained Level Two services are provided for specific students who are identified as having the greatest risk of eventually dropping out of school. Level Two services are provided based on individualized assessments and plans. CIS Total Quality System standards define the frequency and saturation levels of services required for full implementation of the CIS Model.
5. Monitoring and Adjusting Services
According to the site operations plan, the CIS site team regularly monitors and adjusts services as needed to maximize effectiveness and impact. The team also provides regular progress reports to school and affiliate leadership.
6. Evaluating the Effectiveness of Services
According to the site operations plan and the affiliate’s uniform data collection system, the CIS site team implements a systematic data collection plan to evaluate the effectiveness of services on achievingschool-wide goals and addressing the needs of individual students.
7. Annual Reporting
The CIS site team provides annual end-of-year reports to school and affiliate leadership. These reportsare instrumental in planning site services for the following year, as well as contributing to affiliate levelreports for partners, the state office (if appropriate) and the national office.
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