St. Paul Public Schools Shift to Online Learning Amid Immigration Enforcement Concerns
More than 6,000 St. Paul public school students have registered to learn online in the past week as the federal government’s immigration enforcement operation continues. The district introduced a temporary online learning option, which takes effect Thursday, allowing students to register without transferring out of their school. This move aims to provide a safe and stable learning environment for students who may feel unsafe attending class due to the ongoing immigration enforcement activities.
Temporary Online Learning Option
The temporary online learning option was introduced last week, and the deadline for families to register was Sunday. All 69 district schools have been closed through this Wednesday to give teachers time to prepare an online curriculum. Students registering late for the virtual option may have a delayed start time. The district has 33,000 students in total, and the percentage of students who have enrolled in virtual learning ranges from a low of 30% at some schools to up to 75% at others, said district superintendent Stacie Stanley.
Federal Enforcement Impact
The federal government’s immigration enforcement operation has caused significant concerns among students and families in the district. At a Tuesday night meeting, board members reiterated the district’s desire and responsibility to take care of students in a time of unpredictability due to the federal enforcement activity. This includes helping students who have lost in-person classroom time catch up once they return to school, said board member Halla Henderson. The district’s temporary learning plan will be reviewed weekly, with an end date depending on “when our children know that they can journey to and from school, when our families know that they can drop their children off safely at school, without having fear,” Stanley said.
Support for Immigrant Families
The district is working with community partners to provide support for immigrant families, including those who may need food resources. The board has also worked with state lawmakers to develop a plan if U.S. soldiers are sent to Minnesota. Additionally, the district is working to ensure that students have access to school resources, such as school counselors, and that staff who do not feel safe commuting are supported. Alli Kildahl with the St. Paul Federation of Educators’ immigration defense committee said the district also needs to do more to support staff working with immigrant families, online students needing access to school resources, and staff who do not feel safe commuting.
Statewide Strike
Statewide, thousands of Minnesotans are expected to participate in a statewide economic strike this Friday. However, schools will not close on Friday, officials said. “Jan. 23 is a regularly scheduled school day for Saint Paul Public Schools. In this moment, the most powerful thing we can do for all of our students is provide the stability, safety, and continuity of their school community,” district officials said Wednesday.
For more information on the virtual learning program, visit spps.org/virtual. For more information on SPPS policies on immigration issues, visit spps.org. Read the full story Here
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