Document Type
Policy Advocacy Brief
Publication Date
4-2024
Issue Statement/Executive Summary
School attendance challenges are often rooted in systemic issues related to poverty, a lack of access to needed services and support, and biased reporting. These processes have disproportionately impacted Black/African American children, children of two or more races, and American Indian children in Minnesota. Minnesota demonstrates one of the highest disproportionality rates within child welfare in the United States. This is especially important as children of color most often fact systemic issues which disrupt their education. The punitive child protection response to educational neglect in Minnesota does not improve school attendance. Instead, responses that focus on meeting the family's basic needs and building trusting relationships between the family and school system have been shown to reduce absenteeism. Minnesota must invest in these approaches to solve the root issues of educational neglect.
Department
Social Work
Recommended Citation
Lutz, M., Ewanga, A., Rauchman, C., & Sholten, M. (2024). Rethinking educational neglect: Supporting and investing in families to thrive. MSW Program Policy Advocacy Briefs, Minnesota State University Mankato. https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/msw-student-policy-advocacy-briefs/58/
