PRESS RELEASE: Citizen Schools and Cisco Team Up to Help Middle School Students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CITIZEN SCHOOLS AND CISCO TEAM UP TO HELP MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS PREPARE FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND

National Partnership Will Bring Cisco Employees into the Classroom

San Jose, CA – June 7, 2011 – Citizen Schools, one of the nation’s leading education organizations that partners with middle schools to extend the learning day with innovative academic and apprenticeship programs, and Cisco today announced a new national collaborative educational partnership to help middle school students across the United States stay in school and give them unique opportunities for college and career exposure.

Based on the successful model founded in Boston in 1995, Citizen Schools partners with middle schools across the country to expand the learning day for children in low-income communities through afterschool and expanded learning time programs. The organization mobilizes a second shift of afternoon educators, who provide academic support, leadership development, and "apprenticeships"—hands-on projects taught by volunteers from business and civic organizations.  The program currently operates at 37 middle schools in seven states across the country.

Cisco’s investment, which will include employee volunteer, monetary and in-kind support, will reach Citizen Schools programs across the country.  This is the first national initiative between Cisco and Citizen Schools and is an extension of a one-year partnership between the two organizations in California.  Nationally, Cisco has invested $250,000 through this grant as well as $500,000 through in-kind support.  In addition, Cisco employees will participate in the program by volunteering to teach 10-week apprenticeship courses where students will get first-hand exposure to what it is like to work at Cisco.  Apprenticeships will be taught by Cisco volunteers near Cisco office locations in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Texas.

“Cisco is thrilled to continue our work with Citizen Schools and expand our efforts to other regions around the country,” said Sandra Wheatley, Director, Global Community Relations, Cisco.  “We know from the experts that helping middle school students make the connection between school and the ‘real world’ can have a tremendous impact on their long-term success.  Cisco is pleased to partner with Citizen Schools to expose students to potential future education and career paths and help set them on a path to future success.”

This year in California, 18 Cisco employees have volunteered to teach through Citizen Schools.  Topics have ranged from business evaluation in the “Mergers & Acquisitions” apprenticeship to communications and branding in the “Campbell Creative Crew" apprenticeship. Cisco and Citizen Schools also partnered with students from the Stanford School of Education to develop and pilot the curriculum “Film Your Story: Change the World.” The film apprenticeship reinforces literacy skill building through video.

“We are inspired by the work that Cisco employees have already taken on through teaching apprenticeships and are honored to even further embed that talent and passion into our work with Citizen Schools students nationwide,” said Eric Schwarz, Co-founder and CEO of Citizen Schools.  “Cisco and their employees are playing a significant role in setting thousands of students across the country on a path towards educational success.”

About Citizen Schools

Citizen Schools is a leading national education initiative that partners with middle schools to expand the learning day for children in low-income communities across the country through afterschool and expanded learning time programs. The organization mobilizes a second shift of afternoon educators, who provide academic support, leadership development, and "apprenticeships"—hands-on projects taught by volunteers from business and civic organizations. At 37 middle schools in seven states across the country, Citizen Schools students develop the skills they need to succeed in high school, college, the workforce, and civic life.

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.

#   #   #