The program:

Renton School District offers a special dropout prevention program called Communities in Schools.

The non-profit organization is designed so the staff can assist students with things like, choosing a path for their future or just providing them with the resources they lack. Anything that is an obstacle for students from graduating and walking across that stage, this program is dedicated to helping each individual student get through it.

Communities in Schools is a public-school program that’s modeled to help support individuals and families in need. The organization ensures the education and support for students. Their goal is to empower students to stay in school and achieve life. Since this is a nation-wide program, from one school building to another, it varies what each staff is required to do.

The parts:

At Renton High School, this program exists. Communities in Schools in Renton High is led under the name of two staff members with different responsibilities.

One part of the program is 1-on-1 college navigation and exploration. Ms. Kim specializes in this branch. Each year she works on 30-40 senior college cases. Time to time, seniors who want to head to college but don’t have much in mind, come and see Ms. Kim for this kind of assistance. They look at different colleges to fit the future career that the student has in mind and apply to different colleges for more opportunities.

Another is part of this program is to provide basic need support for students and families. This part is led by Ms. Nasarin. This particular section provides mental health services, access to health services, academic tutoring, academic support, college and career readiness, and many more. It contains subtle supplies, like clothing to wear especially during the cold winter time, food to eat, a shelter to stay at, and supplies for school.

The Coordinators:

“My name is Nasarin Ahmed and I am the communities in schools faculty that helps with the basic student and family aids. Unlike Ms. Kim who does college and career work, I do specific work with families and students who have high needs. It’s like a broad territory, but when we say that we provide anything and everything, we truly do. And if we don’t have it, we have resources and people that we can reach out to that will help provide those services. It’s just a matter of breaking down the barriers that are placed, either intentionally or unintentionally, for students to feel like they should quit school and not graduate, we help them break those down. That’s a lot of the work that I and Ms. Kim do here,” explained Ms. Nas.

Ms. Nas said she has always wanted to go into education; education is something that she knew she has always wanted to do. With this source of motivation, she worked hard to get this job. She has been working for five years, but this is her fourth year working in a building. She attends multiple buildings, she does full-time work, full-time school, and is also a student at UW.

In Renton High School, there is more than one Community in Schools staff. Aside from Ms. Nas, there is her partner, Ms. Kim, who helps with post-secondary one-on-one navigation and exploration.

“The reason why they brought me into the building is to help some of our seniors with one on one college navigation. I’m focused on helping students apply for a couple of different schools and what we know and what we are learning as a society is that navigating college is hard. There are lots of different technical steps to take and each college has different requirements and different application; and if a student doesn’t have that support at home, then they should have that support here in the building for them –so that’s why I’m here,” Ms. Kim says.

When Ms. Kim was in high school, her classroom was not an environment that had helped her excelled in. She had said she felt like she was a student who did not fit in somehow and did not have a clear vision for the future. Ms. Kim was very involved with basketball, the biggest motivator for her to pass classes was to be able to play in the games. Since the thought of graduation has not crossed her mind, her basketball coach had stepped in and reached out to her family to help her graduate. She did graduate, but barely. Though after that it was like another cycle. She was left floundering and had to muddle her way through. To ensure a better future for herself and her family, she decided to go to college. Ms. Kim knows what it feels like to be a student who was not a strong academic learner in school. And it was her experience that has impacted her life choices today, and it was her experience that has gotten her so focused on post-secondary navigation.

Use it well, use it now.

Communities in Schools is a program that provides many benefits and should be taken advantage more by senior students. Data and statistics have shown financial improvements and academic improvements after utilizing the program. Getting their futures straightened out and planned has lifted a heavy burden off the shoulders of many students. Students have also been paying their student loans, FAFSA/WASFA, much more quickly than ever, because of this program.

According to https://readysetgrad.wa.gov/WASFAelig:

“The Washington Application for State Financial Aid or WASFA is a free application for state financial aid for students who are not eligible for federal aid because of immigration status, including undocumented students. After you complete the WASFA, the college(s) you choose will use your information to determine your state financial aid eligibility. State financial aid could include State Need Grant, the College Bound Scholarship, or State Work Study.”

“I think what we are seeing is we have a fast fund WASFA completion that we’ve never seen before. Just because that’s one of the most technical pieces of the college navigation world. So, to have someone in the building where a student could come to you and kind of work through the issues on an individual level; more and more students are finishing their fast fund WASFA, which is great. And more students are applying to more schools. I think more of our seniors can clearly envision their future which again the impact for me –what is seen is they’re showing up more, especially to their senior year of high school because they know that they must in order to graduate and get to that school that they and I applied to. They have to finish out the year strong. So, they’re motivated to come to class, they’re motivated to get good grades, you know what I mean? Because they WANT to be able to go to that school that they applied for,” she explained.

Why this should be considered more:

There isn’t ever a time where students should suffer alone, there is always support around. Whether that is from family, or friends, or maybe even staff or community members. There any many out there who are willing to give out a helping hand. Students need to know that they are never alone and Communities in Schools is here to help them.

If you’d like to take advantage of this program, it’s best you get in touch with the staff. There is not formal way of applying so all you must do is communicate with them.

Coordinators’ Contact Information:

Nasarin Ahmed
Basic Needs
Email: nasarin.ahmed@rentonschools.us
Office: 425-204-3532

Kim Macias-Shell
College Navigation
Email: kim@cisrenton.org
Office: 425-204-3487

Communities In Schools of Renton:
https://renton.ciswa.org/