Sejong Academy St. Paul Shifts Online Amid Safety Concerns

Sejong Academy notice and timing

What happened: The academy posted a short notice saying it would move to remote learning for Jan. 14–15, 2026 to protect the “safety and well-being” of students and staff but did not name any specific threat or agency. The notice remains posted on the Sejong Academy website.

Community alerts and fear in Minnesota’s immigrant communities

Local outreach: Urban Village, a Minnesota-based community group, published a video and social posts urging undocumented residents and those without green cards to stay home, avoid driving and limit contact amid reported enforcement activity. The messaging described widespread fear in the local Myanmar community, with people reportedly skipping work, missing appointments and keeping children home from school.

“People skipped work, missed medical appointments and kept children home from school to avoid potential encounters with authorities,” the organization said in social posts noted by reporters.

The posts did not list specific times or locations, and the organization did not provide independent verification of ICE operations tied to the dates the school closed.

No confirmation of ICE actions near the school

Public records searches and reporting available at the time of this article found no evidence that ICE executed raids near Sejong Academy or at the school itself. Local law enforcement and federal authorities did not issue public notices linking enforcement activity to the closure.

Because the academy’s website did not cite ICE or any specific threat, and because community alerts originated from an external group, the precise reason for the shift to online instruction remains unclear.

School background, programs and funding

Location and model: Sejong Academy is a tuition-free public charter school at 2410 Stillwater Rd E, Saint Paul, MN 55119, offering a Korean immersion program aligned with Minnesota state standards.

• Pre-K: Fee-based ($400/month with reduced rates for qualifying families), English-primary with Korean enrichment; hours 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; free meals provided. (See program details on the K–immersion page.)
• K–3: Korean immersion with K–1 at 100% Korean instruction and grades 2–3 introducing more English language arts (program page).
• Enrollment: The 2026–2027 enrollment window was posted as Nov. 10, 2025–Jan. 12, 2026, with lottery procedures and documentation on the enrollment page.
• Governance: The school posts an academic calendar and schedules monthly board meetings; public participation is allowed via Google Meet (see calendar and board meetings pages).
• Cultural programming: The academy reported student cultural activities, including an educational trip to South Korea (school site).

Funding: Media-cited public reports indicate Sejong Academy received more than $7 million in government grants per IRS filings, underscoring its taxpayer-supported status (WCCS Radio report).

Transparency, public accountability and parental concerns

Because Sejong Academy is publicly funded, parents and taxpayers expect clear communication when classes change suddenly. The school’s brief statement citing safety without detail left many questions unanswered for families and local officials.

Board meetings, which allow public comment, may be a route for parents seeking clarification. Contact information listed by the academy includes info@sejongacademy.org and phone 651-301-8722 (enrollment page).

Investigative gaps and what remains unclear

• No public confirmation links the school’s online shift to ICE enforcement or any other specific security incident.
• Urban Village’s warnings reflected anxiety among immigrant groups but offered no independent verification or detailed logistics of alleged enforcement operations.
• The decision affected young learners in a taxpayer-funded setting, prompting expectations of clearer explanations for safety-related closures.

Implications for Redding, California

Economic: Sudden, unexplained closures of taxpayer-funded schools can cause lost work hours and added childcare costs for families — concerns relevant to Redding constituents.

Political: The episode may spur calls for transparency and oversight of charter schools that receive public funds, shaping debates among local officials and voters.

Social and cultural: Fear in immigrant communities can reduce workforce participation and lead to missed medical care and school absences; community groups and service providers in Redding should prepare to provide verified information and support.

Practical applications: School leaders and civic officials in Redding can use this incident as a case study to establish clear emergency-communication plans, publish closure protocols, and verify information before advising constituents.

Source links and reporting

Relevant official and media sources cited in this report:

• Sejong Academy official website and program pages: K–immersion page, enrollment page, calendar, board meetings.
• Fox News report on the school’s shift and community alerts.
• WCCS Radio report on the school and local responses.

Reporting note: Journalists and local officials had not produced evidence that ICE conducted operations at or near Sejong Academy. The school’s brief safety notice remained on its website without further explanation as parents and community members sought clarity.