KSNV: Local schools provide wraparound supports to improve student outcomes

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) - When it comes to learning there are times when students face obstacles outside of school that impact them in the classroom.

Clark County schools are tackling those challenges by adding extra support, including food, mental health, and other services.

They say some schools are already seeing positive results.

Friday at a news conference, local leaders discussed the Full-Service Community Schools Expansion Act.

Communities in Schools of Nevada received a five-year, $11.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support those wraparound services for students.

The grant supports six schools across the state, including in CCSD.

"And the success of our students is just too important to leave that gap open," said U.S. Rep. Susie Lee, one of the lawmakers who introduced the bill. "And this expansion act will allow more schools, especially in high-need areas, to participate in programs offered under the full-service community school program."

There are several schools in the district that are already taking the approach of wraparound services, including Clark High School.

When a student has challenges outside of school, they are better able to focus in the classroom.

College freshman Madison Mulhall said the resources she got at Clark High School set her up for success.

She received help from Communities in Schools or CIS during her time at Clark.

They're wraparound services, education leaders said benefit students at the school in different ways.

Braxton has CIS site coordinators, counselors, and social workers to help remove barriers for students so they can focus on learning, and teachers can focus on teaching.

Similar services are helping other schools in the district as well.

Clark High School stats show that improvements are happening.

For example, over the last few years, the school's chronic absenteeism has been going down.

That means fewer students are missing class.

It went from 48.6% in the 2021-2022 school year to 41.8 percent last year.

Clark High School students say these services are detrimental to teens.