MARK R. WARNER, so comme Wnited States Senate 7 WASHINGTON, DC 20510-4606 RULES AND ADMINISTRATION May 14, 2009 ‘The Honorable Tom Harkin ‘The Honorable ‘Thad Cochran Chairman Ranking Member Senate Appropriations Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Education and Related Agencies 131 Dirksen Senate Office Building 131 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C, 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510 ‘Dear Chairman Harkin and Ranking Member Cochran: ‘As you deliberate on the fiscal year 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education ‘Appropriations bill, we urge you to support $5 million for Communities in Schools (CIS), one of the leading dropout prevention non-profit organizations in the United States, Our nation is in the midst of a dropout crisis. Today, less than three-quarters of the students who enter ninth grade graduate four years later, and this number is significantly lower for many low-income and minority students, This translates to 1.2 million students dropping out of school each year. While individuals who drop out of high school on average earn $1 million less over a lifetime than college ‘graduates, the costs to society are even greater. The 1.2 million dropouts cost the nation more than $312 billion in lost wages, taxes and productivity over their lifetimes. For thirty years, CIS has helped kids stay in school by identifying and addressing the unmet needs of children and families. CIS is active across the country, with 200 local affiliates serving nearly a million kids at 3,200 schools in 27 states and the District of Columbia. CIS works with students at greatest risk of dropping out, Seventy-five percent of students served are ethnic minorities. Ninety percent receive free or reduced-price lunches, and fifty percent are considered at risk for dropping out of school. In 2008, more than two million students had access to services through CIS, and over one million students received direct services. Approximately 49,000 CIS volunteers contributed more than three million hours of their time ~ nearly a $60 million value ~ to dropout prevention programs. Rather than duplicating services or competing with other youth-serving organizations and agencies, CIS identifies and mobilizes existing community resources and fosters cooperative partnerships for the benefit of students and families, Moreover, an independent, scientifically-based evaluation recently coneluded that CIS is the only dropout prevention organization in the nation that increases on-time graduation rates. ‘We recognize the fiscal constraints of the Subcommittee. However, we firmly believe a short-term. investment in effective dropout prevention programs like Communities in Schools will produce significant long-term savings.Finally, we certify that neither we nor our immediate families have a pecuniary interest in this congressionally directed spending item, consistent with the requirements of paragraph 9 of Rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate, We further certify that we have posted a description of this item on our official websites, along with the accompanying justification. ‘Thank you for your consideration of our request. Sincerely, Muh K Mune, Mark R. Warner United States Senator