Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) paid students up to $1,000 for perfect attendance and is expanding the incentive program to middle schoolers after district officials say it successfully reduced chronic absenteeism.Now in its second year, the "Perfect Attendance Pays" initiative targets the winter months—running from Jan.5 to March 20 —when attendance historically dips across the district."DPSCD is continuing the Perfect Attendance Pays initiative for the 2026–27 school year for high school students and expanding it to include middle school students.
At the middle school level, parents of eligible students with perfect attendance during each five-day cycle will receive a $50 gift card," a district spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Friday.NUMBER OF K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS HAS DECLINED IN MORE THAN HALF OF STATES, REPORT INDICATESDetroit Public Schools Community District offered high school students up to $1,000 in gift cards for perfect attendance and is expanding the program to middle school students after district officials said it helped reduce chronic absenteeism.(Getty Images)District officials clarified that the financial incentives are not funded by taxpayers or standard state educational aid."The incentive is funded through interest generated through District funds awaiting to be used for facility projects.
Federal and state revenue is not used to fund the incentive, nor is the incentive offered on fall or spring count days," the spokesperson added.TEXAS’ LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT SEES TEST SCORES SOAR AFTER STATE TAKEOVER DESPITE RACISM CLAIMSDetroit Public Schools has been hit hard by a national chronic absenteeism epidemic, recording a 60.9% chronic absentee rate for the 2024–25 school year.Detroit Public Schools Community District offered high school students up to $1,000 in Visa gift cards for perfect attendance during the second year of the incentive program.(iStock)According to Sarah Winchell Lenhoff, director of the...