CIS was established in New Jersey in 1990 for three reasons. First, there was a demonstrated need in the community evidenced in declining test scores, rising attitudinal and behavioral problems, and alarming dropout rates. Second, CIS offered a successful model with a track record of helping kids stay in school. And third, CIS was invited by a local school district to work in partnership with the educational system to help address the problems preventing kids from succeeding in school.

Communities In Schools of New Jersey (CISNJ) started operations in Newark, where its headquarters remain today. Since 1990, CISNJ has grown from providing services to 70 students at Central High School in Newark, to serving over 25,000 kindergarten through 12th grade students at 39 sites in Newark, Elizabeth, Plainfield, Rahway, Passaic, Millville, Port Norris, Woodbine and Camden.

During the first few years of operation, the state office served as an umbrella organization that raised and passed through funds for several developing CIS local programs in the state. In 1997, all local programs operated under the state office umbrella. Starting in 1997, the Communities In Schools of New Jersey state office began the work of helping its local programs to become independent, community-based, nonprofit corporations, setting the stage for the expansion of programs as we moved into the 21st century. Today there are four independent local CIS organizations that link their communities' resources with schools to serve more than 25,000 students.