Communities In Schools of TN (CISTN) is a part of the national Communities In Schools network, known as the leading and most effective dropout prevention program in America. The Nashville Affiliate of CISTN launched its efforts in school year 2012-13 and today serves over 2,700 Nashville students who are at-risk of dropping out of school. The barriers that keep students from staying in school and graduating are numerous and widespread. They may be hungry, lack parental involvement, be homeless or at-risk of losing their housing, go without proper clothing and live in neighborhoods where there is violence, drugs and gangs. Students with unmet needs have a hard time learning which is why CISTN, in partnership with the Metro Nashville Public School District, works to provide and broker daily school-based interventions to students in grades K-12 to address academic failure, truancy, behavioral issues, social service needs and more.