Op-ed: Taking a stake in schools.

Sheldon Caplis, the Regional Director of North America Community Development for Citi Community Development, contributed an op-ed to the Washington Business Journal highlighting the role businesses can play in improving local schools. In his piece, "Businesses must step up role in closing achievement gap," Caplis called for corporate financial support of programs with proven track records, naming a range of notable organizations focused on principal development and college access in the District of Columbia area. He also urged companies to encourage staff to volunteer as mentors, career advisors and board members of such community organizations. "A college degree is among the single-most important tools for providing young people and our country with a measure of economic resilience," Caplis wrote in his piece.

For his part, Caplis serves on the National Capital Region board of College Summit, which helps young people steer a path to college. He is also on the board of Capital Partners for Education, a high school mentoring program.