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Count Day: School attendance on Wednesday counts for 90% of state funding for districts

Posted at 4:48 AM, Oct 07, 2015
and last updated 2015-10-07 04:48:52-04

LANSING, Mich. -- When it comes to school, attendance every day matters -- students can't learn if they aren't there.  But Wednesday, attendance counts a little bit more.

It is the Fall Count Day for public school districts in Michigan, and attendance counts for 90% of the state funding, making it a critical day for each district.  There is also a Spring Count Day in February that counts for the remaining 10% of funding.  The state offers a large amount of information on the Count Day/funding process here.

Many districts in the area have put together informational campaigns to boost attendance, and spread the word about the importance of Count Day.

The Grand Rapids Public School District, for example, has its annual “Campaign to Count Day” in full effect.  In addition to spreading information via social media platforms, phone calls, emails, and community involvement, they are offering some incentives to the students themselves.

Count Day celebration activities at GRPS include:

  • Districtwide “no school uniform” day
  • Special school-based activities and events
  • Plus, the school with the best attendance on Count Day wins a special visit from the Harlem Globetrotters