Dear Editor, Your recent article on school absenteeism reflects a critical issue impacting Vermont schools and communities. Mirroring national trends, one in four Vermont students is now chronically absent, defined as missing 10% or more of the school year for any reason, a significant incre ase from pre-pandemic levels. As the article highlights, schools are working hard to re-engage families — and there are many bright spots to be celebrated. But the root causes of absenteeism are too big for schools to solve alone, and the ripple effect of school failure can impact the lifelong well-being of individual students and the vibrancy of the broader community. READ MORE To turn the tide on absenteeism, we need to think beyond the school. Unmet health and social needs of students and families are leading causes of absenteeism, including mental health challenges, lack of access to transportation and child care needs.   Through the Every Day Counts project, supported by the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships at UVM, schools and primary care providers in rural Vermont communities are partnering to support school attendance and well-being through aligned messaging, early detection of risk factors and coordinated care.   Other sectors, including transportation, housing, faith and business communities, can join the coalition to support messaging and interventions that help get kids to school every day, so that every child can learn and their caregivers can participate meaningfully in the workforce. Vermont communities are well positioned to come together to ensure that every child is healthy, present and ready to learn every day. Our kids, families and the current and future workforce depend on it. Heidi Schumacher,  Shelburne, Vt. Read the story on VTDigger here: Heidi Schumacher: Missing school and missing out. ...read more read less