AT&T Gives Va. Nonprofit $5M to Prevent Dropouts

AT&T is donating $5 million to a Washington-area charity that works to prevent students from dropping out of school.

The gift announced Thursday was made to Arlington-based Communities in Schools. Officials say the gift will help the group expand its network to help 1.25 million students who face some of the toughest challenges in schools.

Since 2008, AT&T and the AT&T Foundation have given $14.2 million to Communities in Schools and its local affiliates. The group provides about 3,200 school-based coordinators to provide student support services across the country for at-risk youth. They also mobilize volunteers and community partners to provide services.

The charity says that at the end of the 2011-2012 school year, 99 percent of its students stayed in school. Most were promoted to the next grade.