Student walkouts on ‘Day Without Immigrants’ led to state funding losses for schools.

Tens of thousands of students nationwide skipped school on Monday in protest against immigration enforcement as part of the “Day Without Immigrants” demonstrations, inadvertently affecting school funding.

In some states, funding is linked to student attendance.

At Franklin-McKinley School District in San Jose, 1,611 students were absent—far exceeding the typical rate of sick days. These absences cost the financially struggling district, which is considering school closures, approximately $128,000 in state funding.

The situation was even more severe in the neighboring Alum Rock Union School District, where around 2,900 students missed class, leading to an estimated $250,000 loss in funding.

“Any day that a student is not in school, that takes money away from school districts,” said Dr. Lisa Andrew, CEO of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation.

The Silicon Valley Education Foundation noted that the state is working to revise its school funding model, shifting from an average daily attendance calculation to one based on total enrollment.

Alum Rock officials also expressed concern over the instructional time lost. On Monday alone, the district estimated that absent students collectively missed 890,000 minutes of class.

“When kids are in school, we strive to provide historical context and academic preparation to shape them into future leaders,” said Sandra Garcia, Assistant Superintendent of Alum Rock Union School District. “When they’re not in school, they miss out on that opportunity.”

Garcia also highlighted additional worries, including children left home alone and students missing their daily school meals.

While the education foundation acknowledged these concerns, it also emphasized the civic lesson students gained from participating in the protest—an experience that traditional classroom instruction cannot replicate.

“Sometimes the best learning environment isn’t within the four walls of a school, but out in the community with parents and others, discovering what it means to be an engaged citizen,” said Lisa Andrew, CEO of the foundation.

Parent Christina Garcia echoed this sentiment, stating that her children learned the value of standing up for their beliefs, even if it had consequences.

“It’s a small price to pay for a greater cause,” she said.

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