Michigan State Government Highlights Student Attendance Improvements and State School Aid Budget

Strategic Insights -

The Michigan State Government released information at the recent State Board of Education meeting about student attendance improvements and how the 2026 state school aid budget will impact children. The statewide attendance rate for K-12 public school students increased for the third year in a row to 91.3%, while the percentage of students who were chronically absent decreased by 1.6 points to 27.9%. Dr. Delsa Chapman, deputy superintendent of the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) Division of Assessment, School Improvement, and Systems Support, presented information about local school districts' attendance improvements and MDE's support for them.

Key Takeaways:

  • The statewide attendance rate for K-12 public school students increased from 90.8% in 2023-24 to 91.3% in 2024-25, marking the third year of improvement.
  • The percentage of students who were chronically absent decreased from 29.5% in 2023-24 to 27.9% in 2024-25, a decrease of 1.6 points.
  • Out of 263 districts using the Early Warning Intervention and Monitoring System, 171 increased their attendance rates, 169 improved their chronic absenteeism rate, and 149 improved both rates.
  • The Flint Community Schools district improved its attendance rate from 76.6% in 2023-24 to 78.3% in 2024-25.
  • The Lawrence Public Schools district improved its attendance rate from 93.1% in 2023-24 to 94.1% in 2024-25.
  • The 2026 state school aid budget includes funding for high-quality early literacy materials, low class sizes in high-poverty grades K-3 classrooms, Mandatory Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) training, and more in-person student instructional time.

Statistics:

  • 91.3%: statewide attendance rate for K-12 public school students in the 2024-25 school year
  • 27.9%: percentage of students who were chronically absent in the 2024-25 school year
  • 1.6 points: decrease in chronic absenteeism rate from 2023-24 to 2024-25
  • $64.4 million: additional funding for high-quality early literacy series and materials
  • 4.6%: increase in per pupil foundation allowance from 2025 to 2026
  • $10,050: per pupil foundation allowance in 2026
  • $65 million: new pilot program to lower pupil-to-teacher ratios in high-poverty classrooms in grades K-3
  • 30%: percentage of at-risk funding that can be used to reduce teacher-pupil ratios in grades K-3
  • 10 million: additional funding for Mandatory Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) training

Sources:

  • Michigan State Government
  • Dr. Delsa Chapman, deputy superintendent of the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) Division of Assessment, School Improvement, and Systems Support
  • Tom Howell, director of Michigan's Center for Educational Performance and Information
  • Dr. Diane Golzynski, deputy superintendent for business, health, and library services at MDE
  • Spencer Simmons, director of the MDE Office of Financial Management
  • Olivia Ponte, legislative liaison for MDE