Across Washington, a quiet emergency is unfolding in our schools. More students than ever are missing days, sometimes weeks, of learning, connection, and care. Chronic absenteeism has become one of the defining challenges of this moment, not because students don鈥檛 want to learn, but because too many barriers stand in their way.
And the impact is steep: a student is considered chronically absent once they miss just two days a month鈥�10% of the school year鈥攑utting them at risk for long-term academic, social, and emotional challenges.
Before the pandemic, Washington鈥檚 chronic absenteeism rate was 15%. It spiked to 30% in the years that followed, and even now, it remains alarmingly high at 26%.
On November 19, Communities In Schools of Washington (吃瓜tvWA) brought together education leaders for Building Systems of Support: A School Leadership Conversation to explore a powerful question: What does it truly take for students to show up, not just in school, but in their own lives?
Moderated by Erica Lim贸n-Trefielo, Associate Director at 吃瓜tvWA, the conversation was marked by honesty, urgency, and a deep shared belief that connection, not compliance, is what brings students back through school doors.
The Panelists: Leaders Who See the Whole Student
The conversation was guided by three school district leaders who understand that attendance is about far more than showing up for class, it’s about whether a student feels safe, supported, and connected enough to fully engage in their education. Each panelist brought a unique perspective shaped by their communities, their challenges, and their commitment to creating school environments where every student can thrive.
John Farley: Superintendent, Republic School District (Part of 吃瓜tv of Northeast Washington)
- John leads one of Washington鈥檚 most rural districts, where access to resources can be limited. He champions partnerships that expand what schools can offer, ensuring students have the support they need to show up and thrive.
Chris Gardea: Assistant Superintendent, Walla Walla Public Schools (Part of 吃瓜tv of the Blue Mountain Region)
- Chris brings over 25 years in education and focuses on building systems that support the whole student. Through 吃瓜tv, he helps families stabilize and ensures students have the resources and relationships to stay engaged in learning.
Tim Winter: Superintendent, South Kitsap School District (Part of 吃瓜tv of Peninsula)
- Tim leads a fast-growing district facing rising mental health needs. He emphasizes connection before content, using 吃瓜tv partnerships to create meaningful relationships that anchor students to school and community.
Watch the Full Panel Session
Why Attendance Matters: More Than a Metric
While the definition of chronic absenteeism is simple (missing 10% of the school year) the lived experience behind it is anything but. Panelists emphasized that the effects of chronic absence ripple throughout a student鈥檚 life:
- missed opportunities to build relationships
- missed moments of belonging
- missed chances to discover strengths
- missed connection to caring adults
- missed belief in a future they can step into
As Superintendent Tim Winter put it bluntly:
鈥淢iss school, miss out鈥攐n academics, on belonging, on connection.鈥�
Students don鈥檛 learn how to 鈥渄o鈥� school when they鈥檙e not there. And once a student has been gone for days or weeks, returning can feel overwhelming and isolating.
But the panelists were clear on one point: this is not a story of student choice鈥攊t鈥檚 a story of systems, circumstances, and unmet needs.
The Real Barriers Students Face
Absences rarely begin with a student deciding to stay home. They begin with adult realities鈥攃onditions families are navigating every single day:
- transportation gaps
- unstable housing
- food insecurity
- unpredictable work schedules
- caregiving responsibilities
- limited or inaccessible mental health support
In rural communities like Republic, the nearest resource may be an hour away. In growing districts like South Kitsap, families are juggling pressures that didn鈥檛 exist a decade ago. In Walla Walla, schools are supporting families experiencing compounding stress.
Superintendent John Farley summed it up:
鈥淲hen your basic needs aren鈥檛 met, your needs at school aren鈥檛 met. We can鈥檛 judge. We have to meet families where they are.鈥�
And it鈥檚 exactly at this intersection, between need and possibility, that 吃瓜tv shows up.
The 吃瓜tv Difference: Relationships That Change the Story
Throughout the event, panelists returned to one theme: 吃瓜tv site coordinators fundamentally shift what鈥檚 possible for students.
They build trust.
They listen deeply.
They identify the real reasons behind absences.
They connect students and families to resources schools simply aren鈥檛 funded to provide on their own.
In Walla Walla, site coordinators are stabilizing families under extraordinary strain.
In South Kitsap, they鈥檙e helping parents navigate an anxious generation of students.
In Republic, they鈥檙e bringing resources to a community that often has none within reach.
John shared a story that captured this impact more powerfully than any metric:
A student who had been labeled 鈥渢ough鈥� year after year began engaging… showing up, connecting, trying, only after a 吃瓜tv coordinator sat beside them each day, no agenda, no pressure. Just presence.
鈥淭hat relationship brought hope back,鈥� John said. 鈥淭he student started doing better for himself.鈥�
This is what makes 吃瓜tv different. This is the work that doesn鈥檛 make headlines but transforms lives.
Impact You Can Feel, Not Just Measure
Data points shared during the discussion painted a clear picture of progress鈥攁nd potential:
Attendance increased from 57% to 74% within 30 days for a group of students in Walla Walla receiving 吃瓜tv support.
In Republic, relationships formed in elementary school are sustaining through middle and high school, creating a throughline of support rarely possible in rural systems.
In South Kitsap, community partnerships are multiplying, expanding the district鈥檚 capacity to support students far beyond its staffing limitations.
The message was unmistakable: Attendance improves when students feel connected, supported, and seen. And that doesn鈥檛 happen by accident.
Where We Go From Here: A Collective Call to Action
When asked what they would ask of the community鈥攅ducators, partners, donors, families鈥攖he panelists offered clear, unified calls:
鈥淚nvest in relationships.鈥� 鈥� John
鈥淚nvest, engage, and believe. These kids are worth it.鈥� 鈥� Tim
鈥淲e need more adults connecting families to resources.鈥� 鈥� Chris
Chronic absenteeism is not simply a school issue. It is a community issue… one that requires a community response. And that response is strengthened every time a new partner, donor, or champion steps forward.
Schools are expected to be hubs of support for students and families, but rarely have the resources to meet every need. 吃瓜tv exists to bridge that gap, weaving relationships, care, and connection into the school day so students can show up ready to learn, grow, and belong.
If we want students to show up鈥攃onsistently, confidently, fully鈥攚e must be willing to show up for them first.
This is the work. This is the moment. And this is the journey. Walk it with us.