A version of the following column originally was published in February 2026 by a number of APG of East Central Minnesota newspapers.  18 different districts/charters were cited, so the full column was too long for papers to run.  Thus editors decided which to include in the column they printed.  A version of the column appeared in a number of papers. This includes the Aitken Independent, Dakota Country Tribune,  MilleLacs Messenger,  Monticello Times, Press & News, Sun Current,  Sun Post,  Sun This Week, ABC Papers, County News Review and Union Times.

Adult fear, frustration & financial challenge in some Minnesota districts

This column is unlike any I’ve written since I began doing this in 1988. In researching and writing what you’ll read below during the first 11 days of February, I encountered something I’ve never heard before — educators afraid of the federal government.

Because this is so important, I want to be clear: I contacted 24 suburban and rural districts and charter public schools. Eighteen responded. About half expressed fear or described a negative impact on in-school student attendance. Some worried not just about youngsters or families; they were frightened about what might happen to their school or district if I wrote what they told me and identified them.

I am not saying that this group of 18 is a “representative sample” of Minnesota districts and charters, but the fact that so many expressed fear about speaking openly or described a negative impact on student attendance should concern every Minnesota Republican, Democrat and Independent.

While White House border czar Tom Homan said Feb. 12 that ICE will gradually withdraw from Minnesota, legislative support for what has happened in schools should be a high priority. Legislators can’t solve all the problems the surge caused, but they can help.

One suburban superintendent described significant financial losses for the district because of the surge, requesting that I could share the information only if I left out the name of the district and superintendent. The losses included an enrollment decline of 40 students and hundreds of meals the district had planned to serve this school year, and a projected loss of 80 students for the 2026-27 school year because of ICE actions — a loss estimated at $500,000 this year and $800,000 next year.

The leader concluded, “We committed to our constituents to keep our district as far off the radar as possible.”

A rural school district official told me, “We have not had much ICE activity in general, and because of that, our students and families, for the most part, have felt safe still coming to school. We don’t really want to advertise that fact, with worries that could change. There have been some rumors that entities that are being publicly defiant are being targeted. So please keep that in mind as you decide how to write this.”

Some districts and charter leaders were willing to be quoted about the negative impact of ICE on student attendance and, in some cases, finances.

Anoka-Hennepin School District Executive Director of Communications and Public Relations Jim Skelly wrote: “Anoka-Hennepin has been tracking enrollment regarding students who are absent from school due to safety concerns since early December. The number of students not in school due to safety concerns averages between 300 to 500 per day. Overall attendance is similar to last year in our district. As such, the budget impact is similar to past years regarding attendance.”

Brandon Wait, executive director and principal of the Paladin Career and Technical Academy (charter public school) in Coon Rapids wrote: “Since the recent increase in federal immigration enforcement activity, we have seen an approximate 5% drop in daily attendance across our student body. Additionally, a small number of students have shifted to online learning due to safety concerns. Our focus remains on relationships first, student safety, and well-being, and we have put additional supports in place to ensure students can continue learning and stay connected to school.”

Bloomington Public Schools Superintendent Eric Melbye wrote: “BPS has experienced a 4.5% drop in attendance rates when comparing the five school weeks prior to Dec. 1 with the five after (92.6% vs. 88.1%). Our lowest weekly attendance rate was 85.6% during the week of Jan. 12-16. Since instituting a flexible learning option for families, our weekly attendance rate has rebounded to just above 90%.

“The impact has been felt most strongly by families identified as ‘Hispanic’ using federal race designation. In January, this group’s attendance rate dropped to a low of 69%, 23 percentage points lower than students identified as ‘white’.”

Melbye concluded: “Funding is based on enrollment, not daily attendance. We are not seeing a significant impact on enrollment overall. Schools and teachers are maintaining connections with students and families, and our flexible learning options are helping our most impacted students stay engaged in learning.”

Columbia Heights Superintendent Zena Stenvik said the “typical” absentee rate in October 2025, before the ICE surge, was 8%. The highest absentee rate in January 2026, during Operation Metro Surge, was 25% districtwide, with some schools experiencing more than 30% absenteeism on Jan. 8, 2026, she said.

“Once the district opened online virtual learning options, the attendance rate leveled off to 13% absenteeism (Jan. 29, 2026, and Feb. 4, 2026). At this time, 647 students are enrolled in the virtual learning option, and 150 additional students (were scheduled to) start the week of Feb. 9.”

Forest Lake Area Schools Superintendent Steve Massey wrote: “We presently have approximately 25 students whose attendance has been impacted by ICE enforcement activity and their fear of leaving their homes. Most of these students are attending periodically, but their attendance has been interrupted. We have several students who have not attended since the increase in ICE enforcement activity.

At this time, we have not lost any funding. We would lose the prorated amount for any student who disenrolled or is disenrolled due to not attending in a 15-day period of time.”

Shannon Peterson, executive director, Lakes International Language Academy (charter) in Forest Lake explained:

“We have a few families sheltering in place. We are trying to engage the children with online learning and packets. A parent has organized our large group of volunteers to deliver packets and supplies. We do not anticipate a significant drop in attendance or associated funding.”

Fridley Superintendent Brenda Lewis explained: “Fridley Public Schools has seen a 44% increase in absences district wide, since the presence of ICE in our community. When analyzing further, one elementary school had a drastic 85% increase during the January-February period. Overall, there have been 112 students that have left the district since December. These absences and students that left the district result in a potential loss of funding for the district of over $1 million.”

Monticello Superintendent Eric Olson described how ICE activity in that community had changed the way the district operates: “Our overall attendance the past two months has been steady at 85.2% in January compared to 85.01% in February. Last year, January was the only month our overall attendance was below 90% (and this is the case again). I cannot confirm that we have lost revenue, but I can confirm that we are working relentlessly to make sure all students are being educated. We are currently serving an additional 70 students using our online program (882 online) since the surge in ICE activity. Twenty-two of these students are elementary online. We have not needed the elementary platform for several years but began using it because of the surge in ICE activity. We also changed transportation routes for 50 students (no budget impact) to help children feel safe.

“Our students receiving EL services are already back up to 92.33% attendance (in person or online) for the first 10 days of February. While we have seen a significant presence of ICE in our community for six weeks, we have been able to educate our students at similar attendance rates to last year. Our education just looks different during the surge.”

Rosemount Apple Valley  Eagan (ISD 196) District Communications Director Janet Swiecichowski replied: “In District 196, attendance rates have dropped about three percentage points (from 95% daily attendance to 92% over the last 30 days).” 

Stillwater Area Public Schools Chief of Staff Carissa Keister wrote: “In Stillwater, the impact on attendance related to the ICE surge is minimal. We have been providing devices, hotspots, and access to learning materials to a small number of families who do not yet feel comfortable sending their children to school. This allows students to remain engaged in learning and avoids enrollment disruption.”

Stillwater’s New Heights Charter Executive Director Thomas Kearney wrote: “Luckily, my school has had only one student take time off due to this issue. He decided to trust the school when he was told that there is no credible threat of ICE coming into our school to remove anyone.”

Some districts and charters reported that ICE had little to no impact on their students or schools, including Aitkin, Braham, Cambridge-Isanti, Caledonia, Waconia and Milaca.

Minnesota Association of School Administrators Executive Director Deb Henton and I discussed what has happened in Minnesota. She said MASA is asking the Legislature to ensure Minnesota public schools are not harmed financially because of ICE activities. Most leaders with whom I spoke endorsed this.

This is one of many actions needed to help young people, families and educators. But I think it should be a top priority. We must also find ways to support and encourage young people, families and educators who, in some cases, have become fearful about what the federal government will do.

Joe Nathan taught U.S. history for more than 40 years. He founded and directed the Center for School Change. Reactions welcome, joe@centerforschoolchange.org.