Posted on 08/31/2026 10:09:50 PM PDT by Libloather
Detroit public schools have an absolutely hideous rate of chronic absenteeism. But their solution is even worse — paying kids to show up.
A newly expanded program could see middle and high school kids making as much as $500 or $1,000-a-year, respectively, in gift cards for simply attending class.
The district claims it creates an incentive for kids to show up — it’s called the “Perfect Attendance Pays” program — but it’s a desperate, last-ditch attempt to fix a much deeper cultural crisis.
The program is actually teaching toxic life lessons: that simply showing up is some sort of accomplishment, and you’re entitled to be rewarded for doing the bare minimum.
The initiative has been in effect for high schoolers for two school years. The district announced this month that middle schoolers will also be eligible.
It’s an attempt to chip away at the daunting fact that a full 60.9% of students in the district were chronically absent as of the 2024-25 school year, meaning they missed at least 10% of school days.
For 10 weeks between the new year and spring break, when the district’s historical data proves kids are especially unlikely to show up to class, a five-day week of perfect attendance is redeemable by high schoolers for a $100 gift card and $50 for middle schoolers per week for up to 10 weeks.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
What ever happened to Truant officers!
That’s not the goal. They just want the warm bodies so they can get the funding. It’s all about the money.
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Hold on.
If all these kids are not showing up; then the remaining kids must have a smaller class size.
So why are the test scores so low?
Also, since the absentees and their parents obviously care little for education, how will enticing them to show up improve the overall education of the total class?
PROPERTY TAXES BECOME BRIBES-—JUST WONDERFUL
Now some are getting paid to not be able to read beyond a 4th grade level or do basic math. Figures they’d so something asinine like this.
Showing up for failing schools is no better than not showing up. The results are the same in the end.
Yeah your tax dollars at work.
“The payout should be $1000 invested in the student’s Trump Account. Achieve perfect attendance and earn $1000 in your account. Watch that money grow and buy a car when you turn 18. Or keep it growing and start a business with you’re 30.”
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Absolutely...
Beat me to it.
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