The mission of Communities in Schools is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.   Communities In Schools (CIS) of Pittsburgh is an affiliate of the nation’s largest and most effective Integrated Student Supports (ISS) organization. ISS is a school-based approach that connects students with services that target academic and non-academic barriers to achievement Community resources provide the substance to our “Five Basics” model that has allowed our students to flourish over the last 35 years.