Communities In Schools of Peninsula: 25 Years Strong

Fighting back against chronic absenteeism

Courtesy of Communities In Schools of Peninsula

Communities In Schools of Peninsula (CISP) is celebrating its 25th anniversary! This milestone is not just a testament to longevity but a celebration of a continued commitment to empowering students through support and resources. Over the past 25 years, CISP has been at the forefront of improving student attendance by helping school leaders identify and address barriers—both academic and non-academic—that prevent young people from attending school. CISP is a non-profit organization that places trained, caring adults known as “site coordinators” directly IN schools. These staff members work hand-in-hand with families and teachers to connect young people with the resources they need, motivating and encouraging them to stay on track for graduation and achieve their life goals.

The spike in chronic school absenteeism that began in the wake of the pandemic shows no sign of receding. More than one in four students—that’s 14.7 million kids—were chronically absent in the 2021-22 school year, missing 10% of the school year, or nearly a month of classes.

Many students miss school due to challenges with safety, transportation, mental or physical health, access to clean clothes, food insecurity, or have household responsibilities such as childcare or needing to work. Yet, chronically absent students cannot succeed if they are not in school. They have lower test scores, fare worse in classes, and are far less likely to graduate. Once they’ve left school, they are at higher risk for health problems, difficulty finding jobs, and a host of other adverse outcomes.

CISP’s model follows a proven national framework that integrates community resources directly into schools, helping build a strong foundation for student success. Each school with a site coordinator receives both individual and school-wide support services, ranging from academic tutoring to food access, behavioral health services, and enrichment programs.

In the 2023-24 school year alone, CISP provided individualized support to 384 students. Of those, 93% showed improvement in college and career readiness, 77% in academics, and 94% in behavior—clear indicators of the impact consistent, dedicated engagement can make.

At the heart of this effort are site coordinators, who often work behind the scenes to support students in meaningful ways. They lead social-emotional learning groups, connect families with essential services like housing assistance and transportation, and collaborate with a network of local partners—including social service agencies, businesses, health care providers, and volunteers.

Site coordinators provide one-on-one support to help students overcome barriers to success. This includes academic assistance, access to food and clothing, physical and mental health care, mentoring, and college or career preparation. They also coordinate school-wide programs, such as bullying prevention assemblies and after-school enrichment activities, designed to meet the broader needs of the student body.

CISP is calling on everyone in local communities to show up for kids, ensuring they have the support necessary to attend school and be ready to learn. The tools are in place, but this work can’t be done without support!

Volunteers also play a key role in expanding the reach of CISP’s mission. By contributing as little as one hour per week, they support programs such as CISP’s after-school academic sessions and the “Tutors with Tails” reading initiative. These efforts help reinforce CISP’s mission to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. CISP fuels personal potential, enabling every student to take charge of their story and define success on their terms.

Visit Peninsula.ciswa.org to learn more about Communities In Schools of Peninsula and how to make an impact in the lives of young people here in the community!

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