A Statewide Effort to Rebuild Student Attendance
The days of COVID-enforced distance learning may be over, but student attendance rates remain alarmingly low in Minnesota’s K-12 schools.
During the 2023-2024 school year, more than 1 in 4 students missed at least 10 percent of school days because of unexcused absences or suspensions, according to the state Education Department.
That’s why the Minneapolis Foundation recently partnered with EdAllies to host a roundtable discussion of chronic absenteeism. The meeting brought together two dozen leaders representing state and county agencies, the legal system, statewide associations of principals and school boards, organizations serving youth, and other education advocates.
“It has been very hard since the pandemic to get young people back in school and attendance rates where they need to be,” said Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, who welcomed participants at the meeting and thanked them for efforts begun last year to address truancy and chronic absenteeism.
In 2024, the Minnesota Legislature created a study group to examine the issue and propose solutions. As part of our 2025 legislative agenda, the Minneapolis Foundation supports adoption of the group’s recommendations.
At the Jan. 24 roundtable, the study group’s chair, Rep. Heather Keeler (DFL-Moorhead), and fellow member Rep. Ben Bakeberg (R-Jordan), who is also a middle school principal, discussed the group’s findings and proposed legislation.
“This issue, from the jump, has been bipartisan.”
At the meeting, representatives from Minneapolis Public Schools and Rochester Public Schools gave updates on pilot projects they have launched to support student attendance. Leaders in government, business, and the nonprofit sector also shared their perspectives on flaws in the existing system and opportunities to coordinate more effectively to address the issues that keep kids from attending school regularly.
“The spotlight that the Minneapolis Foundation and EdAllies was able to bring to the issue of chronic absenteeism is so important if collectively we are going to assure better educational opportunities for all Minnesota students,” said Jim Davnie, Executive Director of Minnesota Alliance with Youth. “This needs to be a long-term effort by a variety of stakeholders, and convening leaders from different sectors is key to centering students and creating solutions.”
“It is truly inspiring to see so many leaders come together with a sincere desire to work together for Minnesota’s students,” said Patrice Relerford, the Foundation’s Vice President of Collective Impact and Giving. “The Minneapolis Foundation was glad to host this meeting, and we look forward to continued conversation about how philanthropy can support this critical work.”
