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Committee lays over bill to fund statewide school-attendance public awareness campaign
Summary
House File 2043 would fund a statewide marketing campaign to reduce chronic absenteeism. Testimony from nonprofit partners, students and county programs emphasized barriers to attendance and how a public campaign could support early intervention and community expectations.
Representative Sandra Green (as listed in the hearing) presented House File 2043, proposing a statewide marketing and public-awareness campaign to boost regular school attendance and address chronic absenteeism. Green described the proposal as a complement to local interventions and cited Rhode Island as an example where a public campaign helped reduce absences.
Terrell Brum of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities told the committee his organization would partner on communications and outreach and highlighted after-school, school-release day and summer programs that support attendance and family engagement. "We believe student success is directly connected to engagement in school and is strengthened when children and teens attend school regularly," Brum said.
Shania Cole, a recent graduate and student advocate, testified about transportation barriers, neighborhood safety and inconsistent bus service that contributed to missed school days. "Not being able to get to school and not being able to be heard by my school district or by my social worker... it was hard," Cole said, noting her advocacy led to improved bus service at her high school.
Ashley Hightower of the Hennepin County Attorney's Office, Be at School Program, described early, informational interventions the county offers and cited data showing that 76% of students referred at the program's first tier did not receive further attendance reports after initial contact. Hightower argued a statewide campaign could reduce punitive framing and encourage early supports.
Members asked about whether the Minnesota Department of Education could absorb the work; Representative Green said she and supporters were exploring options with the Governor's office and state agencies. Representative Green renewed her motion and the committee laid House File 2043 over for possible inclusion in the education omnibus bill.
