Hey kids, get to class, it's Count Day

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Getting kids to attend class is important every day.

But Wednesday it counts for something even more -- funding for their school.

Count Days are mandated by the state through the State School Aid Act. They are used to determine state funding for K-12 public school districts. Funding is based on the number of kids who attend class on Count Days.

The calculation that schools receive (pdf) is based on a blend of both winter and fall student count data during the same calendar (not school) year. For example, the 2011-2012 school year allocation is based on the 2011 winter (February) count blended with the 2011 fall (October) count.

Winter counts occur on the second Wednesday in February and represent 10% of state funding (changed from 25% to 10% beginning 2011-2012 school year).

Fall counts now occur on the first Wednesday in October and represent 90% of state funding (date changed from fourth Wednesday in September after Labor Day; funding allocation also changed from 75% to 90% beginning 2011-2012 school year).

The change came after research showed the state was paying for students counted in the spring who were no longer at the schools come fall.

Count Day Schedule --

• 2011-2012 School Year Count Dates
  • Winter Count -- February 9, 2011 = 10%
  • Fall Count -- October 5, 2011 = 90%
• 2012-2013 School Year Count Dates
  • Winter Count -- February 8, 2012 = 10%
  • Fall Count -- October 3, 2012 = 90%

School officials have five weeks to submit student count information to their district, which has 24 weeks from
the count date to provide the audited pupil counts to the state.

Students at Harrison Park School in Grand Rapids with five or less absences since the start of the school year will be rewarded at an attendance bonanza blast. The event includes face painting, games and crafts.

Grand Rapids Public Schools is also asking parents, students and concerned citizens to spread the word about the importance of Count Day via email, Facebook, Twitter and word of mouth.