After two years of paying high schoolers for perfect attendance, the Detroit Public Schools Community District is expanding the program to middle school this year.
The school district has struggled with chronic absenteeism. Last year 57% of Detroit students missed 18 days of class or more, about twice the statewide rate.
The district has looked for creative approaches to increase attendance, Superintendent Nikolai Vitti told Michigan Public, which he said is directly linked to student achievement…