A new report sheds light on the need for more resources to fight chronic student absenteeism in Minnesota.
The report, released by Minnesota Alliance With Youth, emphasizes the local significance of the problem.
Executive Director Jim Davnie says the problem isn't just in the Twin Cities though. It's affecting rural communities as well.
"St. Louis County schools in Northeastern Minnesota, 36% of their students had problems with absences that year," says Davnie. "Butterfield in southern Minnesota, 31%. Staples-Motley in central Minnesota, 45%. Stillwater over on the eastern border of the state, 26%."
Their report shows, on average, 71% of students statewide missed more than three weeks of class during the 2021/22 school year. Davnie says their Promise Fellow program looks to bring those number down.
"We train Promise Fellows in research-based techniques so that they can work with a student to pull out what's motivating for them, what's engaging for them and how can they find those places in school that connect with their motivation," he explains.
Davnie says funding the program would be a positive step forward for Minnesota in tackling this crisis. He says the organization is asking the state for $1 million per year to staff a special team of educators who's sole purpose is keeping kids in school.