CISPAC Launches Its 1st Research & Development Project

PRESS RELEASE January 6, 2020For more information:Denise Bullitt via email: dbullitt@cispac.orgVia voice: 412-361-4945 ext.# 203 Communities In Schools, Pittsburgh – Allegheny County (CISPAC)Launches Its 1st Research & Development Project For 30+ years CISPAC has been providing on-the-ground direct services to students and schools. Whether offering case management services or running our academies to help students obtain high school credentials, our many years assisting schools has helped us learn a great deal about breaking down the barriers that block student achievement.We believe relationships are the key. Parents, service providers, community and business leaders all play critical roles in advancing student success.“In the fall of 2019 we began taking what we’ve learned, combining it with today’s technological advancements to develop new applications for our work. Our Sustainability Project will help us support schools more efficiently and effectively. Its outcome will help schools sustain CISPAC’s impact, long after our time in a school district has come to an end.” said, CISPAC Executive Director, Bridget Clement. “We’re very excited about this new venture and the impact it will have on student success.”The project – scheduled to last through June 30, 2022 – will also empower the development of a brand-new website and begin utilizing social media to tell the story of our work and its impact on the Pittsburgh region.IQ Inc. of Monroeville PA is a provider of custom software engineering services and has been selected by CISPAC to develop its cloud-based community school assessment tool. Since 1994, IQ Inc. has been a collaborative partner to a broad-spectrum of for-profit clients that include Bayer, AGI, Westinghouse, Allegheny Equine and nonprofits like Youthworks, Family Resources, One Vision One Life, YMCA McKeesport – to name a few.This project will be a web application that will guide users through a progression of interactive surveys that will link together to become a global overview of a school districts strengthen and challenges. Data collected will be used by CISPAC staff to create a customized strategic plan to improve student outcomes, increase family and community engagement and, maximize resources available for students and their families.IQ Inc. is led by President and Founder, Barbara VanKirk. Norbert Balko, Engineering Manager, will serve as IQ’s project manager for this product. Said Balko at the announcement of the award, “We’re excited to work with CISPAC’s team. We believe our missions align well.”###