AT&T Contributes $1.5 Million to Communities in Schools to Help Increase Graduation Rates for At-Risk Students

Program Praised by President as Model for Providing More One-on-One Student Support

Dallas, Texas, To help combat the alarming high school dropout rate among our nation’s at-risk students, AT&T* today announced a $1.5 million contribution to Communities In Schools (CIS) to enable the organization to strengthen and advance its core program.

CIS will use this funding to significantly increase the number of school-based site coordinators who help connect at-risk-students in affiliate schools with academic support, mentoring, counseling, after-school programs, career development, intervention, health care and other resources.

For more than 30 years, CIS has remained committed to addressing America’s dropout crisis. In a speech this spring outlining efforts to transform low performing schools, President Obama praised the CIS program, noting that the Administration will “build on the efforts of places like Communities In Schools that make sure kids who are at risk of dropping out have one-on-one support.”

Each year, more than 1.3 million students receive CIS-coordinated support, tutoring, mentoring and counseling. According to the organization’s annual Network Results publication, CIS continues to see remarkable results for its students in the areas of academics, behavior and attitude. The report evaluates the progress of the network’s most at-risk students by examining the number of students with improved outcomes, as well as the number of students who attained the goals outlined in their individual plans. During the 2008-2009 school year:

* 97% of students stayed in school.
* 93% reduced high-risk behavior.
* 91% of students were promoted to the next grade.
* 85% of students improved their attitude towards school.
* 84% of students graduated.

“Nearly one-third of all public high school students, and almost one half of minorities, fail to graduate with their class,” said Laura Sanford, President of the AT&T Foundation. “Communities In Schools was one of the first agencies to address this challenge with school-based, integrated student services and AT&T is proud to contribute to an organization that is achieving measurable and sustainable results.”

“This contribution will allow us to reach hundreds of new students, offering them a renewed hope of achieving success in the classroom and beyond,” commented Daniel Cardinali, President of Communities In Schools. “AT&T has been a long-time collaborator and supporter of Communities In Schools, and we are grateful for their support and commitment to our nation’s most disadvantaged students.”

This contribution from AT&T will be used to fund a one year re-granting program to help select CIS affiliates hire additional site coordinators. Select CIS affiliates will compete under an RFP for funds, and up to 30 site coordinators will be hired through this program. The 30 site coordinators will be in place by the fall, with local recipient announcements taking place in early September. To be competitive under the program, CIS affiliates must have sites within middle schools that feed into those high schools with the lowest graduation rates in the country.

AT&T is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. As part of its commitment, AT&T launched Aspire in April 2008. AT&T Aspire is one of the largest-ever corporate commitments to address high school success and workforce readiness.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE® magazine.

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About Philanthropy at AT&T
For 25 years, AT&T and the AT&T Foundation have been committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its philanthropic initiatives and partnerships, AT&T supports projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; and address community needs. As the AT&T Foundation celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2009, more than $160 million was contributed through corporate-, employee- and AT&T Foundation-giving programs in 2008 alone.

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