Communities In Schools of Washington marks 35 years reaching 144,000 students

Communities In Schools of Washington is celebrating 35 years since launching in 1991, with a statewide network now serving more than 144,000 students in 49 districts. The milestone underscores how the nonprofit’s school-based support model has grown across Washington as it works to remove barriers tied to attendance, housing, food and mental health.

Why it matters: - Communities In Schools of Washington now reaches more than 144,000 students annually across 212 schools in 49 districts. - The nonprofit’s model focuses on removing barriers that can keep students from learning, including chronic absenteeism, transportation problems, mental illness, homelessness and food insecurity. - The scale matters because CISWA is positioned as a direct support system for students and families, not just a referral network.

What happened: - Communities In Schools of Washington marked its 35th year on Oct. 8, 2026. - The organization was founded on Nov. 4, 1991, and grew from a Puget Sound effort led by business and education leaders. - CISWA now operates as a statewide network of 12 affiliates. - Gwynth R. Nelson, CEO and State Executive Director of CISWA, said the organization meets students where they are and starts with a comprehensive assessment of needs.

The details: - The Communities In Schools movement began in 1977 with founder Bill Milliken’s model of bringing community resources into schools. - Boeing, Costco and Washington education leaders helped bring the model to the state in 1991. - The network has expanded across both sides of the Cascades into rural, suburban and urban communities. - A $5.85 million collective gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in 2022 went to CISWA and three Washington affiliates. - Ballmer Group invested $9 million in 2023 to expand and deepen CIS services in 45 schools and reach more than 64,000 students by 2028. - Research led by scholars affiliated with Cornell University and the EdRedesign Lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Education found improved standardized test scores, high school completion and adult earnings for students receiving CIS personalized supports in high-poverty schools. - Earlier findings showed three years of CIS exposure increased high school graduation by 5.2% over baseline and two-year college enrollment by 9.1% among students identified as high-risk.

Between the lines: - The anniversary is also a signal that the CIS model has moved from a local intervention strategy to a statewide student-support infrastructure. - The research citations give CISWA a stronger evidence base at a time when districts are under pressure to address attendance, basic needs and postsecondary outcomes at the same time. - Adolfo Vela’s path from CIS student to CIS site coordinator shows how the model can create long-term personal and community ties, not just short-term support.

What's next: - CISWA is likely to keep scaling through its affiliate network, school partnerships and philanthropic backing. - Ballmer Group’s stated goal points to continued expansion through 2028 in 45 schools and more than 64,000 students. - Vela’s return to Waterville as a site coordinator highlights how CISWA can cultivate alumni who reenter the system as staff and community connectors.

The bottom line: - After 35 years, Communities In Schools of Washington has grown into a statewide player with a clear bet: student success improves when schools connect families to practical, local support early and consistently. - More information