It’s a big day across metro Detroit, as thousands upon thousands of students are waking up to get ready to start a new school year. That includes students in the state’s largest district: the Detroit Public Community School District (DPSCD).
This year, the district has around 108 schools, serving more than 52,000 students. The district has made strides to improve its standing over the past few years, including increasing graduation rates, providing better salaries for teachers, and raising the literacy rate for its students.
This year, chronic absenteeism is a main priority. Absenteeism becomes chronic when a student misses at least 18 days of the school year. In the last school year, the district’s rate was at 60 percent, double the state average. To get more kids in the classroom this year, the district is testing out a pilot program, offering bus transportation for students at two high schools…