- Roughly 27 percent of Washington students were chronically absent in the 2024-25 school year
- Regular attendance is key to a child’s development academically, emotionally, socially and behaviorally
- Communities In Schools of Washington supports student attendance through relationship building
Brushing your teeth. Scheduling your annual checkup. Working. There are many things adults know they shouldn’t skip
But what about when it comes to children? Experts say that school should be at the top of that don’t-miss list — and the reasons extend far beyond academics
Regular school attendance helps children build healthy routines, confidence and social skills; form relationships with trusted adults; gain access to red regular meals; and learn skills and resilience for a strong future
Why are we talking about absenteeism?
Roughly 27 percent of students in Washington state were chronically absent (missed more than 10 percent of school days) during the 2024-25 school year, according to MultiCare’s partners at Communities In Schools of Washington (CISWA)
Communities In Schools (CIS) is the nation’s largest dropout-prevention organization. As the state office, CISWA supports affiliates across Washington as they provide in-school support. They do this through site coordinators who provide access to basic needs, individual and group programming, mentoring, school supplies, other basic re
It can be easy to assume a chronically absent student just doesn’t want to go to school — that they’re lazy or not good at school, explains Gwynth Nelson, CISWA state executive director
But often, school absences are out of the student’s control, she says. Many rural communities deal with transportation challenges, such as ferries breaking down or snow on mountainous bus routes, while other districts face safety risks along bus routes
Some families may not prioritize school or may have schedule conflicts that make it difficult to get a child to and from school, adds Nikki Ziegler, CISWA program and impact director
And some kids may be choosing to stay home because of bullying they experience in school, social or academic anxiety, or unrecognized and untreated depression
CIS site coordinators work each day to break down some of those barriers and ensure students can get to — and stay in — school. How that looks for each school and student is different: They might organize safe transportation alternatives for safe travel, provide on-site hygiene care for students whose families don’t have shower access, or simply be there for a student to talk to when things get hard.
Why is regular school attendance so important?
School is the main setting in a child’s life where they can develop academically, emotionally, socially and behaviorally, explains Heather Thelaner, MS, LMFT, integrated mental health provider at Mary Bridge Children’s Adolescent Care clinic
“School supports healthy development across all stages of childhood and adolescence,” she says. “In early childhood, students build foundational social-emotional skills, routines and learning habits. In middle school, it helps strengthen identity, self-esteem, social skills and resilience. And in high school, students develop decision-making, self-advocacy, future planning and healthy peer relationships.”
Chronic absenteeism is identified as an important child health outcome because of the long-term impact it can have on development, achievement and well-being, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics
Setting children up for strong and healthy futures starts by establishing stability and routine as early as preschool
Continuity is so important for children as they grow up, says Ziegler, program and impact director. Following a schedule ensures children develop healthy habits, like getting adequate sleep so they can focus in class, and it also eases anxiety and fear over what to expect each day
Building that confidence and sense of ease in where they should be, what they should do and what to expect from those around them allows kids to focus on the other aspects of school, like lessons and relationships. As that emotional regulation builds, it also teaches coping skills for when challenges do happen
“A lot of what we’re doing is working to build health habits, resiliency and agency,” Ziegler says. “As students learn to navigate the barriers to attending school and then so on, it sets them up for a lifetime of setting goals, working through hard things and how to overcome barriers.”
School also serves as a support network for food access and everyday reta, roughly half of all students qualified for meal assistance at school in 2024
“If they’re absent, they’re missing meals that may not be available at home,” says executive director Nelson
Many schools also provide weekend meal kits for students to bring home
“A lot of what we’re doing is working to build health habits, resiliency and agency. As students learn to navigate the barriers to attending school and then so on, it sets them up for a lifetime of setting goals, working through hard things and how to overcome barriers.”
CIS site coordinators often provide snacks, as well as toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, and feminine hygiene products, to children whose families may struggle to afford them, she adds. For many students and families, school is their first point of connection to re
Those may seem minor, but for children and teens, not being able to brush their teeth or hair could be the difference between staying home and going to school
“We had a student in a rural community who the site coordinator noticed was missing a lot of days. They went out to their home and talked to them, where they found out that their well had gone dry,” Ziegler shares. “They were embarrassed about the hygiene factor and staying home.”
After discovering they weren’t the only family dealing with this, the CIS site coordinator transformed a staff bathroom into a hygiene locker with personal cubbies, showers and clothes, she says. The site coordinator also washed clothes for them regularly
“It’s not an immediate thing you think about when you think about absenteeism,” Ziegler says. “We couldn’t pay to fix a well, but we found a creative solution for them.”
Whether that relationship is with their teacher, a coach, the school counselor or a CIS site coordinator, ensuring that each child knows there’s someone at school they can come to if they’re struggling or just connect with is key to making school a place they want to be
“We’re not concerned about students being in school so they can be compliant,” Ziegler says. “We care about you being here for you.”
Adults who are willing to put the time in to get to know a student, their goals and values are going to get much further in helping them reach those milestones and in developing open and honest relationships, she adds
Interested in CISWA support or re
School is also one of the only spaces outside a child’s home where adults see them often enough to notice when something may be affecting their emotional well-being, adds Thelaner
Mental health and school attendance can be a challenging case of “which came first?” A student experiencing bullying, social isolation or academic stress may start skipping school to avoid the emotional burden, while a student living with depression, family challenges or trauma outside school may also stay home
But school staff have the power to notice those warning signs and act sooner, Thelaner adds
As missed days add up, it can lead to irregular connection with support systems, increased overwhelm as missed schoolwork builds up, and disconnect from social circles, Nelson says
On the flip side, consistent and healthy interactions with trusted adults and peers, participation in extracurricular activities and sports, and engaging in studies can help solidify well-rounded emotional well-being
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