Across Washington, Students Are Struggling, and the Education Crisis Hits Hardest in the Classroom
Students across Washington are facing a reality no child should endure: unmet basic needs, limited mental health supports, and unstable housing or transportation. The Communities In Schools network across Washington works on the frontlines of this education crisis, ensuring that every student has the support they need to stay in school and thrive. Recent visits from leaders like Senator Patty Murray’s team highlight the real stakes of proposed federal funding cuts and the urgent need for solutions that keep students safe, healthy, and learning.
CIS staff, school leaders, and district representatives are witnessing these challenges every day. Peninsula School District staff and CIS team members met with Senator Murray’s team, Megan, Juan, and Joe, to share how integrated student support is implemented in schools and across the district.
Senator Murray’s team, Megan, Juan, and Joe, met with CIS of Peninsula site coordinators, executive directors, and Discovery Elementary staff to understand how integrated student supports operate within schools and districts. They saw firsthand how programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and McKinney-Vento (supporting students experiencing homelessness) give students the food, health care, and housing stability they need to succeed academically and emotionally.
During the visit, CIS Peninsula Site Coordinator Alex was asked what three priorities the Senator could champion. His answer resonated deeply:
Identifying the simple most impactful barrier that students is like trying to pick your favorite Lord of the Rings movie. You watch The Fellowship of the Ring and think, ‘Wow, this is it.’ That’s attendance, and how it’s tied to accessible transportation and affordable housing. But then you watch The Two Towers and, then you realize, “This is greater.’ That’s your basic needs support like food, clothing and hygiene products. Finally, you arrive at The Return of the King, and nothing feels like it can top that—there you have social/emotional learning and how that directly relates to academics.
In reality, the three of these barriers add up to make the great trilogy of student needs and no single one exists without the other. That’s what makes case management so vital—we get to know the students and their families and learn which part of the trilogy they’re in.
Across the state, schools are being asked to do more with less. CIS staff provide both preventative supports and crisis intervention, often stepping in where systems fall short. Every decision at the state and federal level directly impacts students’ safety, wellbeing, and opportunities for success.
Why Advocacy Matters
Visits like this one reinforce the need for policymakers to engage directly with schools and communities. Senator Murray and her team are listening, learning, and advocating for bipartisan solutions that prioritize students’ needs. These efforts are critical because the work of Communities In Schools is fundamentally human-centered—it’s about ensuring every student, in every community, has the chance to thrive.
The education crisis in Washington is complex, but solutions are within reach when communities, schools, and policymakers collaborate. By lifting our collective voice, we can ensure that every child has the foundation to succeed—because when students thrive, communities thrive.
Every student deserves the support they need to thrive. See how you can help advocate for students across Washington. Learn more about our 2025 legislative priorities here.
To get involved or learn more, contact Associate Director Erica Limón-Trefielo at erica@ciswa.org or visit ciswa.org.