St. Paul Korean immersion charter moves classes online amid community fears over reported ICE activity
Sejong Academy, a St. Paul Korean immersion charter, shifted to online learning Jan. 14–15, 2026, citing unspecified “safety and well‑being” concerns after community advisories warned of reported ICE activity, prompting fear and disruptions for families.
Key takeaways
- Temporary shift: Sejong Academy announced remote instruction for Jan. 14–15, 2026, with Jan. 16 a scheduled staff development day; the school notice did not name immigration enforcement. (Sejong Academy notice)
- Community advisory: Urban Village posted social media guidance advising undocumented immigrants and some noncitizens to stay home amid reported ICE activity, but provided few operational details. (Fox News; WCCS Radio)
- No public confirmation: Reporting found no public evidence directly linking the advisory or a confirmed ICE operation to the school’s decision; attempts to reach the school and Urban Village were reported. (Fox News)
What the school said
Sejong Academy’s public notice stated the school would move to online learning on Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 14–15, for the “safety and well‑being” of its school community, and that Friday was already scheduled as a staff professional‑development day (no in‑person classes). The message did not specify the nature of the safety concerns or mention immigration enforcement or ICE activity; the notice appears on the school site. (Sejong Academy website)
Why the move drew attention
The timing of Sejong Academy’s announcement overlapped with social media posts and a video from Urban Village advising undocumented immigrants and certain noncitizens to avoid travel and limit contact amid reported immigration enforcement activity. That overlap prompted questions among parents and local leaders about whether the advisory and the school closure were related.
Available public records and reporting did not show a direct link between the advisory and the school’s decision. Local outlets noted the coincidence and sought comment. (Fox News; WCCS Radio)
Urban Village’s statements and community impact
Urban Village used social platforms to urge those without legal status to stay home and limit driving during what it described as a period of intensified enforcement activity. The organization framed the guidance as an effort to protect families and noted particular fear among the Myanmar community; reporting said the advisory caused disruptions to work, medical visits, school attendance and daily activities for some families.
“The posts did not provide verifiable details about where or when enforcement was taking place,” reporting noted, leaving families and service providers to balance safety precautions with essential needs.
Reporting indicates Fox News Digital reached out to Urban Village for comment; the group’s public posts remain the primary public record of its guidance. (Fox News)
Funding and public oversight
Sejong Academy is a taxpayer‑funded public charter school operating a Korean immersion program in St. Paul. Local reporting referenced IRS filings and noted the school received significant grants — figures cited included more than $7 million in grants in recent years — as reviewed in media coverage. (WCCS Radio)
Public charter schools are subject to state oversight and public records rules; Sejong’s calendar and governance pages list board meetings and school‑year scheduling. The public notice in this case was brief and focused on safety without further detail. (Sejong Academy calendar; Sejong governance)
Background on the school and community
Sejong Academy serves early elementary grades with an emphasis on Korean language immersion and cultural education including Taekwondo and Samulnori. The school lists enrollment forms, requirements and multilingual benefit application forms on its site and gives its address as 2410 Stillwater Rd E, Saint Paul, MN 55119. (Korean immersion program; Enrollment forms)
The Twin Cities region includes diverse immigrant communities, among them Korean and Myanmar populations; community organizations like Urban Village play outreach roles when public safety or immigration enforcement concerns arise.
Reporting and attempts to verify
News reports covering the closure and Urban Village’s advisory cited the school website and the organization’s social posts. Fox News Digital reported contacting both Sejong Academy and Urban Village for comment but did not record substantive responses as of its reporting. Local radio reporting summarized similar facts and referenced public documents about the school’s funding; the school’s pages remain primary public sources for calendar, program and governance information. (Fox News; WCCS Radio; Sejong Academy website)
Implications for San Diego
This episode suggests several takeaways for San Diego stakeholders:
- Public‑safety communication and trust: Schools and community groups should provide clear, specific information when safety decisions affect students; vague notices can spark rumors and anxiety among immigrant families.
- Impact on immigrant communities: Advisories about enforcement can lead immigrant families to miss work, school or medical care; coordinated multilingual outreach and verified legal-resource information can reduce disruption.
- School operations and online readiness: Districts should maintain robust remote‑learning plans and audit technology access to support families during safety‑driven closures.
- Coordination with community organizations: Partnerships among schools, nonprofits, law enforcement and legal aid can improve the accuracy and usefulness of advisories.
- Policy and oversight: Transparency about charter‑school funding, board meetings and emergency communications helps taxpayers and policymakers follow public‑funded institutions’ responses to safety concerns.
Sources
Sejong Academy website: Sejong Academy; reporting by Fox News Digital: Fox News; local radio reporting: WCCS Radio.
