Funding Penalties for Attendance Shortfalls
The Detroit Public Schools Community District will see a reduction of $2.2 million in state funding because it failed to meet the 75% daily attendance requirement on multiple occasions last year, as confirmed by the Michigan Department of Education. Superintendent Nikolai Vitti has expressed concerns that this regulation unfairly impacts schools in high-poverty areas, exacerbating funding disparities.
Systemic Challenges and Financial Consequences
Vitti emphasized that the fines penalize the district for attendance problems stemming from broader issues like housing instability, transportation limitations, and health concerns. He noted that these financial penalties divert resources that could otherwise support students facing difficulties.
"It's a policy that punishes the symptoms while making the underlying condition worse," Vitti stated.
He also pointed out that many school closures result from aging infrastructure, which the district cannot control or repair independently.
State Regulations and Enforcement
Under the State School Aid Act, districts risk losing state funding if daily attendance drops below 75% on any instructional day. While the state superintendent can waive fines in cases of severe weather or epidemics, the Michigan Department of Education enforces these penalties consistently.
Bob Wheaton, the MDE's director of public and governmental affairs, explained that all districts are subject to these fines, regardless of student demographics. He clarified that daily attendance metrics differ from chronic absenteeism rates, which track students missing 10% or more of school days annually.
"While chronic absenteeism remains a serious concern for the state, the calculation of chronic absenteeism originates from federal and accountability reporting requirements and is monitored through separate data systems and processes," Wheaton said.
Attendance Data and Reductions
Records indicate DPSCD fell below the attendance threshold on 11 days last school year. Initially facing over $6.8 million in fines, the district's penalty was reduced to $2.2 million after reporting absences at one school that exceeded the state's 180 instructional day requirement.
"We were fortunate; the reduction was only possible only due to a unique circumstance at the specific building that was affected," Vitti remarked. "Had the same situation occurred at nearly any other school in our district, we'd still be facing the full $6.8 million."
This year, DPSCD has already fallen below the 75% attendance mark twice, with Vitti anticipating further challenges during winter months and at the school year's end.
Broader Context and Improvement Efforts
Statewide, 142 traditional public school districts and charter schools were initially identified as potentially facing fines for last year's attendance rates. DPSCD, where 84% of students come from low-income families, has historically struggled with high chronic absenteeism rates.
Despite these challenges, the district has implemented comprehensive strategies to improve attendance, including investments in attendance agents, health hubs, home visits, and mental health services.
"We're investing heavily in attendance agents, health hubs, home visits, parent engagement, mental health services; all the wraparound supports that actually move the needle on attendance," Vitti explained.
Last year marked the first time chronic absenteeism in the district dropped below pre-pandemic levels, though over 60% of students still missed excessive school days. Statewide, the absenteeism rate reached nearly 28% in 2024-25, higher than before the COVID pandemic.
Legislative Advocacy and Future Outlook
Vitti has urged district officials to lobby legislators for changes to the attendance law, arguing that financial penalties do not address root causes.
"Taking millions from schools doesn't get a single additional child to school," he told Chalkbeat. "It just means we have that much less to help them get there."
According to Wheaton, the attendance penalty was not enforced during the 2020-21 school year due to COVID-19. In 2023-24, only one district faced a fine, which was waived after data errors were verified.
"That said, it's common for somewhere between 35 and 50 districts to be initially identified," Wheaton noted.
