Detroit students to get up to $1,000 for perfect school attendance

Detroit students are being incentivized to attend school regularly with a program that offers financial rewards for perfect attendance. The initiative, which has been extended and expanded, provides high school students with $100 electronic gift cards each week they attend school without absences.

This financial motivation has proven effective in combating chronic absenteeism. From January to March 2026, approximately 12,800 high school students, or 84% of the total in the district, received these monetary rewards. The program contributed to a notable decrease in chronic truancy, which fell from 64% to 54% among high schoolers.

Building on this success, the program will be broadened in the 2026-2027 academic year to include students in grades 6 through 8. These younger students will receive $50 weekly for maintaining perfect attendance, further encouraging consistent school participation.

Overall, the school district has allocated $13.9 million from its $1.1 billion budget towards these anti-truancy measures. The program's main payouts are concentrated between January and March, a period typically marked by lower attendance due to cold weather and seasonal illnesses, highlighting the district's commitment to ensuring students remain engaged throughout the academic year.