As Los Angeles Unified School District(LAUSD) struggles with school attendance and keeping students engaged with curriculum, former educator and founder of University Pathways Public Service Academy, “The U,” an urban public school in South Central Los Angeles, Amen “Principal” Rahh interviewed with Ourweekly to discuss solutions to the problem at hand for educators.
Q: What are the short and long-term effects of the Department of Education closing?
A: In the short term, students and families lose trust in the system, which signals that education is not a national priority. In the long term, we risk unraveling decades of work to ensure equal access and protections for Black, Brown, and low-income students. The Department of Education provides oversight and support that many communities rely on. If we lose that, the most vulnerable students will pay the price.
Q: What are the long-term and short-term effects of funding being cut from schools?
A: The short-term effect is immediate: Fewer teachers, less support, and more students falling through the cracks. Long-term, we see whole communities struggle. Students without resources today become adults with fewer opportunities tomorrow. And it always hits our communities the hardest. Cuts to public education are not just about budgets, they are about whose future we choose to invest in.
Q: What is Knowlej, and how did it come to be?
A: Knowlej is a student engagement platform I built to help schools fight absenteeism and connect with students in a way that works. I started it after leading a school in South Central LA, where we reached a 100 percent graduation rate by putting students at the center of everything. Knowlej uses data, mentorship, and incentives to give students reasons to show up and feel seen when they do.
Q: What methods do you use to keep students engaged, and suggest that other teachers implement them in their teaching?
A: Start with culture. Know your students—what drives them, what they value, and what makes them feel empowered. Knowlej builds that into the classroom using tech that tracks participation and rewards consistency. Teachers can use that same mindset. Engagement is not about control, it is about connection. Students need to feel like the classroom is theirs, too.
Q: What is your solution to the current crisis of student absences?
A: We need to stop approaching this crisis with punishment. Students are not showing up because the system is not meeting them where they are. Knowlej flips that by offering real incentives and a clear structure. It connects students to mentors, brands, and experiences that reflect their reality. Absenteeism is not just about attendance, it is about belonging. When students feel like they matter, they come back.
Q: How can the public support you and Knowlej?
A: Support looks like showing up. If you are in education, consider bringing Knowlej to your schools. If you are a parent or community member, ask what engagement tools your schools use. If you are a business leader or investor, partner with us to create incentives that speak directly to students’ needs. We are building something that honors where our kids come from and helps them get where they want to go.Enhancing student engagement
To learn more about the app, visit Knowlej.io
