Several Minnesota school districts are offering online learning amid increased ICE operations in the state.
Minneapolis Public Schools, which previously closed its schools on Jan. 8 and 9 following the shooting death of Renee Good by an ICE agent, has been offering online learning options since Jan. 8, Fox reports. The offerings will be available until at least Feb. 12.
Saint Paul Public Schools announced on Jan. 9 that online learning would be available for students who feel unsafe attending classes in person. School officials said the virtual learning option will start Jan. 22. To prepare, the district canceled classes on Jan. 20 and 21, in addition to the previously scheduled closure on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
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“Our goal is to ensure that all students can stay connected to the school whether that is in-person or virtually,” SPPS Superintendent Stacie Stanley said in a Jan. 12 video announcement to parents. Stanley also noted that, “to date, no ICE or other federal agents have come to any Saint Paul Public Schools building.”
The district’s communications director told Fox that the virtual learning plan will be reviewed on a weekly basis to determine whether adjustments are needed.
Other Minnesota school districts offering online learning include:
- Fridley Public Schools
- Richfield Public Schools
- Robbinsdale Area Schools
- District 196 (Apple Valley, Eagen, and Rosemount schools)
In a Jan. 19 press release, in part titled, “ICE Continues to Remove the Worst of the Worst from Minneapolis Streets,” the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced federal officers have made more than 3,000 arrests since the start of Operation Metro Surge six weeks ago.
“We have arrested over 10,000 criminal illegal aliens who were killing Americans, hurting children and reigning terror in Minneapolis because Tim Walz and Jacob Frey refuse to protect their own people and instead protect criminals,” said Secretary Kristi Noem.
Minnesota Schools Absenteeism Up Amid ICE Operations
Several Twin Cities districts have reported climbing absenteeism rates since ICE operations began in the city.
Two days after Renee Good was killed, 51% of Minneapolis Public Schools students whose home language is Spanish did not show up to school, according to MinnPost. Absenteeism rates were around 20% during comparable days a year ago. Students whose home language is Somali saw an absence rate of 24% on Jan. 9, up from 18% a year ago.
On the day Renee Good was killed, 85% of Latino students in North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale schools were in class. Two days later, Superintendent Christine Tucci Osorio told Axios that Latino attendance was down to 73% amid fears of racial profiling, even among those who are U.S. citizens.
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Fridley Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Lewis told Axios that absenteeism is “exponentially higher” than normal, noting one-third of students are regularly absent.
An online survey published earlier this month found 70% of U.S. principals said students from immigrant families have expressed concerns about their well-being or the well-being of their families “due to policies or political rhetoric related to immigrants.”
A strong majority of principals also reported declines in attendance and learning of students from immigrant families. Nearly 58% said some immigrant parents and guardians left the community during the school year. In some instances, students moved with them, leaving them unable to finish the school year.
