GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Despite pleas for kids to attend school today, Grand Rapids Public Schools said around 4,200 students weren't in class due to a "Day Without Immigrants" protest.
John Helmholdt, communications director for GRPS, said it does appear the district of 16,834 students won't make the 75 percent student attendance threshold for Thursday, Feb. 16, to count as an instructional day.
GRPS won't have final numbers until midnight but it means the day will count as a snow day. Each district receives six per year and GRPS will have three with today's mass exodus.
The protest is in response to President Donald Trump's immigration policies such as "extreme vetting" and his plan to build a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. Immigrant families were urged not to attend work or open their businesses, keep their kids home from school, and boycott local businesses and restaurants.
Principals of schools with large immigrant populations sent letters to parents Wednesday, Feb. 15, reminding them that is important that children are in school, on time, every day, ready to learn.
Schools with the highest absences Thursday, mostly around 50 percent, included: Buchanan Elementary, Cesar E. Chavez Elementary, Westwood Middle, Harrison Park School, Burton Elementary and Middle, Union High, Innovation Central High, and Southwest Community Campus.
Urging 100 percent attendance on Friday, Feb. 17, the district is sending out a round of robocalls, text messages, emails, and social media later today to parents reminding them of the importance of student attendance and the direct correlation between student attendance and academic achievement.
"We certainly honor and respect our students and parents who participated in this national event. Now, it's back to school time! So I am calling on all parents and guardians to join me in helping to ensure our kids are back to school tomorrow," according to the district.
Godwin Heights Superintendent Bill Fetterhoff said the, 2,150-student district also failed to meet the attendance threshold with only about 67 percent attendance. He said the district is 60 percent Latino.
Kelloggville Public Schools Superintendent Sam Wright said his district also had a high number of absences but did have 77 percent of the students in class.
West Ottawa reports being above the 75 percent threshold but was down a few percentage points. Holland Public Schools also reported meeting requirements for an instruction day.