Tens of thousands of students across the nation participated in “Day Without Immigrants” protests on Monday, voicing opposition to immigration enforcement policies. This large-scale walkout resulted in notable consequences for schools, with attendance rates taking a hit and, in turn, leading to a significant loss of state funding.
In San Jose’s Franklin-McKinley School District, 1,611 students were absent, which was much higher than the typical sick day rate. As a result, the district, which is already facing financial struggles and contemplating potential school closures, lost around $128,000 in state funding due to these absences.
The Alum Rock Union School District was even more impacted, with approximately 2,900 students missing school. This amounted to a staggering $250,000 loss in state funding for the district.
“Every day a student is absent, it directly affects our funding,” explained Dr. Lisa Andrew, CEO of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation. The foundation has been advocating for changes to the school funding system, pushing for a shift from funding based on daily attendance to a system based on overall student enrollment.
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Aside from the financial blow, districts expressed concern about the academic impact of these absences. Alum Rock Union School District officials estimated that the missing students amounted to 890,000 minutes of lost instructional time.
“When students aren’t in school, they miss out on the lessons we provide to prepare them for leadership,” said Sandra Garcia, Assistant Superintendent for Alum Rock. Garcia also highlighted the challenges faced by students left home alone and those who missed out on school-provided meals.
Despite the disruptions, the Silicon Valley Education Foundation noted that the protest gave students a valuable lesson in civic engagement—an experience that can’t always be replicated within classroom walls.
“Sometimes the most valuable lessons happen outside the classroom,” said Dr. Andrew, reflecting on the hands-on civics lesson students experienced during the protest.
Parent Christina Garcia echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of teaching children to stand up for their beliefs, even when there are consequences.
“It’s a small price to pay for a bigger cause,” she said, acknowledging the significance of the demonstration beyond its immediate impact on education.
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