STOPPING TRUANCY BEFORE IT STARTS: Behind every attendance record is a story, and Nayaadamaagejig is listening
By Vivian LaMoore, Inaajimowin Editor
September always brings fresh starts: new crayons, sharpened pencils, bright backpacks, and shoes that still squeak in the hallways. As students head back to class, Nayaadamaagejig is reminding parents that staying connected is key - and some-times, it starts with something as simple as a phone call. Be cool and call the school.
"We want families to know that we are non-judgmental and are here to help families," said Judi Helmin, Child Protection Supervisor. "We are looking to guide and assist families with any barriers they are having with getting the child to school." Attendance has become a growing concern across Minnesota and the nation. Chronic absenteeism — missing 10% or more of school days - nearly doubled during the pandemic.
In Minnesota, close to 40% of students were chronically absent in 2022. While last years numbers improved, with 25.5% of students still missing too much school, the issue remains urgent, according to the Minnesota Department of Education.
According to Mike Gadbois, Principal of Nay Ah Shing Secondary School, chronic absenteeism is a significant concern and remains one of the schools primary improvement goals.
Attendance is critical, as students cannot learn effectively when they are not in school. Because the causes of absenteeism are often complex, early intervention and collaboration with agencies such as Nayaadamaagejig are essential.
Lehtitia Weiss, principal of Nay Ah Shing Elementary School, shared that this year's school improvement theme is "Leveling Up." One core focus is Leveling Up Attendance. Partnering with programs that support family and child wellness will be key to success. Both principals emphasized their goal of ensuring 100% of students and families avoid the need for legal intervention due to truancy.
It's important to understand the difference: chronic absenteeism includes both excused and unexcused absences, while truancy refers specifically to unexcused absences and is a violation of state law. Both are red flags that students may be slipping through the cracks.
Reasons vary - from health or mental health struggles to bullying, lack of interest, or even something as basic as transportation. That's why staff in Child Protection Services and Nay Ah Shing Schools are teaming up to get ahead of the problem.
"We remind families how important it is to call the school when a child is ill," Helmin explained. "We let them know what an excused absence is and what is not considered excused.
Sometimes it is simply because their phone isn't working, or they don't have a cell phone. We can help with that. Or maybe they don't have a washer, and the kids don't want to go to school. We can help with that, too. We offer all-around support."
Lisa Levig, ICWA Family Support Aide, works closely with local schools to help families stay on track with attendance before issues become truancy concerns. By reviewing attendance records early, school social workers can connect with students and families in a supportive, nonjudgmental way, offering guidance and resources to ensure every child has the best chance to succeed.
This collaboration is showing strong results. Its first full year had an 80% prevention rate, meaning most families received support before cases escalated. Kaari Weyaus, Social Worker, stressed the approach: "It is more of a partnership than an us (child protection) vs. them. We really want to get to the root of the cause and see what we can do to help with community resources. We can step in and refer the family to our Family Preservation program who can help, rather than open a full CPS case."
Sometimes the best help is practical and immediate. Levig said one of the things she likes most about assisting families has been to be able to make contact with people early to offer help. Levig shared a few memorable examples:
A family had just moved and couldn't find their alarm clock. Staff provided one.
A parent's car broke down, leaving kids stranded at home. Staff helped with transportation.
Another family didn't have a working phone, so important calls were missed. Staff provided support to reconnect them.
Sometimes, solutions are surprisingly simple and Nayaad-amaagejig is there to help. "I offer my phone number to fam-ilies," Levig said. "If parents need help getting the child to school because their car broke down, or one case where they just moved and couldn't find the alarm clock — we got them an alarm clock. Sometimes it is very simple and making contact. We are here to help."
"When we say, 'Do you need anything? Is there anything your family can use?' we mean that genuinely," added Jamie Rancour, HHS Strategic Initiatives Coordinator. "We can't help if we don't know."
The goal is to build trust, not fear. "We also don't want to scare people," Helmin emphasized. "We want to help. We are trying to prevent truancy. We don't want to freak people out."
Research shows the stakes are high. According to the U.S. Department of Education, children who miss too much school in early grades are less likely to read at grade level by third grade - and those who don't read at grade level are more likely to drop out, face poverty, or struggle with health and justice system involvement later in life.
For Nayaadamaagejig, the message is clear: prevention works. With caring staff, practical support, and community resources, families don't have to face these challenges alone.
As students break in those new shoes and sharpen their pencils this fall, Nayaadamaagejig wants families to know they are not alone. Whether the problem is as big as ongoing mental health needs or as small as a missing alarm clock, support is only a phone call away.
Because at the end of the day, attendance is about more than checking boxes. It's about children building confidence, learning alongside their peers, and staying on a path that leads to graduation and future success.
And sometimes, it all starts with that simple reminder: Be cool and call the school.