Schools

Student Count Day is Today

October's count day results represent 90 percent of state funding for the district.

Count Day is when all public schools in Michigan tally the number of students attending their schools. This is an important day for districts because each student in attendance translates into state funding.

"We're very fortunate in our community where parents send their kids to school," said Frank Ruggirello, director of community relations for Plymouth-Canton Community Schools. 

He said other districts have pizza parties and give out prizes on count day. 

Find out what's happening in Plymouth-Cantonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"There isn't anything special we need to do to make sure our students come," Ruggirello said. 

Count days and school funding are mandated through the State School Aid Act. The calculation schools receive is based on winter and fall student count data during the same calendar year, according to the Michigan Department of Education. For example, this year's funding will be based on February's count and October's count.

Find out what's happening in Plymouth-Cantonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Ruggirello said the official count last year in the district was 18,623 students.

Since last year, October's count day results represent 90 percent of state funding, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

"Last year, our total per pupil funding was $7,350," said Brodie Killian, executive director of business services for Plymouth-Canton Community Schools. "Our foundation allowance was $7,134."

He said the additional $216 per student, or the foundation allowance, came from a one-time addition that is based on best practices in the district like test scores.

Killian said this year the district is expecting $7,351 per student. 

According to Michigan Department of Education rules, students must be in attendance and receive instruction in all classes on count day to be counted. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here